Please Say/Whisper The Words Out Loud Lesson 1 - Speaking TO People There are people who somehow manage to always catch others at their worst. Critical people focus on those times, remember it, and keep commenting on it. It seems as if they are playing the game of "I caught you". One can see the gleam in their eyes when they catch someone doing something wrong. Think about what we are focusing on. The way to motivate people to improve is to reinforce when they do things right. Notice how people are growing and improving, appreciate it. express it.
Lesson 2 - Speaking ABOUT People We are forbidden to ridicule Torah thoughts. Even if the ridicule is true, it is considered lashon hora. (Obviously, the laws of speaking for a constructive purpose would apply here). ------------------------------------------------------ Lashon Hora = Saying a derogatory/negative statement about someone else that is TRUE Motzi Shaim Ra (Defamation of Character) = Saying a derogatory statement that is FALSE About Whom is it Forbidden to Speak Lashon Hora - Any Individual Jew - Alive or not, - adult or child, family member (spouse, in-laws, parent, child, siblings), groups/sects of Jews, Entire Jewish Nation --------------------------------------------------------------------------- These lessons are derived from a few books: Guard your Tongue: Adapted from Choeftz Chaim by Zelig Pliskin The Power of Words by Zelig Pliskin Chofetz Chaim: A Lesson a Day - The Concepts and Laws of Proper Speech Arranged for Daily Study By Shimon Finkleman and Yitzhok Berkowitz Purity of Speech: A short lesson on the halachot of shmirat Halashon Chofetz Chaim - A Daily Companion: Arranged by Reb Yehuda Zev Segal
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