Lashon Hara
Question
When the Hafetz Hayyim says that you can't even say something positive about someone, because it might lead to lashon hara, what does he mean? i have heard great scholars praise people publicly as have everyone else. Is it that we don't hold like the Hafetz Hayyim?
Answer
Answered by Aaron AbadiThe Chafetz Chaim is quoting a Gemara. The people distort his words to mean such ridiculous things, that it is impossible to keep. Then they try to get you to not say Lashon Harah for one hour each day. What if I didn't kill anyone for one hour a day?! The scenario that is mentioned is when a group is sitting around and they're talking about stuff, and you want to begin that conversation about Chaim Yankel who has a father who went to jail, for example. Most of the people don't know about it. Chaim Yankel would be very embarassed about it. You know that one of the crowd knows the deal, and if you get him going, the story will be on the table. You of course don't speak Lashon Harah, so you say, "isn't Chaim Yankel an honest & wonderful guy?!" And out comes the dad in jail story. He spoke Lashon Harah & you spoke "Avak Lashon Harah." Speaking nice things about a person who is good, is a wonderful Mitzvah. AA