Lesson 1 - 2nd condition for repeating... B. The special (and lenient) category of repeating LH spoken in the presence of 3 people applies ONLY to someone who has her/himself heard it in the presence of 3 people. If it was heard with less than 3 people, or even if the speak assures you that s/he initially said it in front of 3 people, you CANNOT repeat it. Lesson 2 - 3d condition for repeating If any of the 3 listeners is the type of person who guards their speech and will not repeat the lashon hora, it is forbidden for the others to repeat it. The same is true if one of the 3 is a relative or close friend of the person spoken about. In these cases, they won’t repeat it, so itts like it was only said in front of 2. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In case you missed the last 2 related lessons - Recap from before. Although there’s the opinion that it’s okay to repeat lashon hora spoken in the presence of 3 or more people, it is not widely accepted. However, even if this lenient opinion is accepted, there are many conditions that restrict its applicability. Qualifications for repeating information spoken about in front of 3 people A. Even if lashon hora was told in the presence of 3 people, it is forbidden to be spread purposefully. The lenient opinion only allows the information to be INCIDENTALLY repeated, without any intent to publicize it. (to be continued)
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--- These lessons are taken directly from Guard Your Tongue by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin - Adapted from the teachings of the Chafetz Chaim