SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM — Hilchos Rechilus 1:1-3
We now begin, b’ezras Hashem, the second part of Sefer Chofetz Chaim, the Laws of Rechilus.
The Torah states,” Do not go as a gossipmonger among your people.” As we have learned, these words prohibit us from speaking all forms of lashon hara. However, the word “rochil” gossipmonger which literally means peddler, refers specifically to someone who goes “peddling” his gossip from person to person, telling each one: “Do you know what So-and-so said about you …?” “Do you know what So-and-so did behind your back?” Such talk is called “rechilus” [from the word rochil] and does much to destroy the unity and ahavas Yisrael of our people. In the Chofetz Chaim’s words:
It is a great sin and causes many among the Jewish people to be killed. This is why this prohibition and that of “You shall not stand aside while your brother’s blood is shed” are placed in the very same verse.
The Chofetz Chaim makes a very crucial point regarding rechilus:
Chaim has been the shul’s caterer for three years and his contract is up for renewal. The shul’s board votes not to renew his contract. Chaim is angry and confronts a board member, Danny Walters. “What do you want from me?” Danny responds. “I voted in your favor, but I was outvoted by people like Friedman and Pollak.”
The next time Chaim meets Mr. Friedman, he confronts him. “You voted against me at that board meeting — don’t try to deny it!”
Mr. Friedman responds calmly: “Yes, I did vote against you. And I’ll be very straight with you. In the past year, I’ve been to at least a dozen weddings and bar mitzvahs which you catered. I’m sorry to say that I was very disappointed, both with the quality of the food and the service.”
Though Mr. Friedman readily admitted that he voted against Chaim and maintained that his vote was absolutely correct, Danny was nevertheless guilty of speaking rechilus. He had no right to reveal how the voting went and thereby cause bad feelings between Chaim and those who voted against him.
The Chofetz Chaim then discusses an all-too-common case:
Bunk 31 has just lost its fourth baseball game of the summer. The campers are dejected. Dovid tells his bunkmate, Yechiel, “I’ll tell you the truth. We could have won the game if you wouldn’t insist on trying to hit a home run every time you’re at bat. Don’t say it’s not true. Even Simchah, your best friend, said that it was obvious you were trying for a homer.”
Though Simchah did make that comment and though Dovid’s intention in relating it to Yechiel was just to prove his point, nevertheless, Dovid had no right to repeat it. By doing so, he caused Yechiel to have bad feelings towards Simchah and is guilty of speaking rechilus.
IN A NUTSHELL
We are not permitted to relate rechilus, even when our intention is just to make a point, and even when the perpetrator would readily admit that the report is true.
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