- Q. See question above, How can we listen to a wedding drasha of a Chatan Vekalah, when often what is said about them, is only a partial truth?
A. The Chofetz Chaim (Laws of Loshon Hora 9:1-2) begins addressing the subject of Avak Loshon Hora (lit. the dust of loshon hora,) statements which are not actual complete loshon hora but which are nonetheless forbidden.
The mere concept of Avak Loshon Hora underscores the severity of loshon hora. This sin is so dangerous that an entire chapter of Sefer Chofetz Chaim is devoted to statements which are forbidden because they hint at loshon hora or because they can lead to loshon hora.
A particle of dust is so minuscule that one has to look very carefully to see it at all. It is often the same with Avak Loshon Hora. One may be dealing with words which seem quite innocuous.
In the Chofetz Chaim’s first example, someone comments about a certain person, “It’s amazing how far he’s come.” On the surface, it appears that the speaker has not spoken derogatorily about his subject, nor caused him any harm. But if we probe a bit further, we can expand the statement to mean, “It’s amazing how far he’s come, considering the fact that he has an unsavory past,” or “… considering the fact that he’s not that bright.”
In all probability, the speaker’s intention was entirely complimentary. Nevertheless, people may lose respect for the person, no matter what his current status, if they find out that he had a troubled past or if they perceive him as lacking in intelligence.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by, Horav Yaakov Hirschman, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit’a.
Important Numbers
