Illustration Credit: Elad Lifshitz, Dov Abramson Studio
Halakhah הֲלָכָה
Perhaps the most famous case of צָרַעַת (tzara’at) is Miriam’s. After she speaks about Moshe and Moshe’s wife behind their backs, she gets tzara’at (Bemidbar 12).
Based on this story, tzara’at is considered a punishment for לָשׁוֹן הָרַע (lashon hara, gossip and slander). We saw this connection in our מִדְרָשׁ/Midrash section this week.
Here’s the Torah source prohibiting lashon hara:
לֹא־תֵלֵ֤ךְ רָכִיל֙ בְּעַמֶּ֔יךָ
Do not spread gossip among your people
The Gemara takes lashon hara very seriously. In one place (Arakhin 15b), it says that our words are so powerful that speaking badly about another person is like killing them!
Rambam (Hilkhot Dei’ot 7:2) explains that there are three categories of forbidden speech:
- לָשׁוֹן הָרַע/Lashon hara: sharing negative information about someone, even if it is true.
- מוֹצִיא שֵׁם רָע/Motzi shem ra: spreading lies about another person.
- רְכִילוּת/Rekhilut: repeating information about someone that you heard from someone else.
Today, it’s common to use the term lashon hara in a general way that includes all of these.
The Hafetz Hayyim, featured in a previous Devash, had a lot to say on this topic. For example, he taught that it’s also forbidden to listen to lashon hara (Hilkhot Lashon Hara 6:2) and that even praising a person too much can qualify as lashon hara (9:1-3).
When Sharing Negative Information is Allowed
Sometimes, it is actually a mitzvah to share negative information about someone else. For example, the Pithei Teshuvah (Orah Hayyim 156) says that if you find out that Rahel is plotting to steal from Leah, you must tell Leah what you know. If you or someone you know might be hurt, you have to tell your parents or other adults who can help. We can’t be bystanders when someone is in danger. In those situations, speak up!
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