New York – The Lessons Of ‘Tzom Gedaliah’ And The Misused ‘Lashon HaRah’ Phrase

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    New York – Today is the fast of Tzom Gedaliah. It is a fast day that commemorates a tragic time in our people’s history, one that the Gemorah (Rosh HaShanah 18b) equates with the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash itself – a very jarring thought.

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    And yet perhaps even more jarring, are the words of the Panim Meiros on the Yerushalmi in Horios (3:5). The Panim Meiros states as follows: Gedaliah caused his own death.

    He was, himself to blame, not only for his death but for the deaths of thousands of others.

    How so? When people erroneously forbid information from being disseminated on account of thinking that it is Lashon Horah – terrible tragedies result. When people think that it is absolutely forbidden to pass on necessary information, people cannot take protective measures. At times this too can be quite devastating.

    Gedaliah Ben Achikam was one of the Gedolei HaDor of his generation. It is a perhaps little known fact, but he was also a Navi. Indeed the Gemorah (Rosh HaShana 18b) explains that Hashem Himself (Zechariah 8:19) equates the death of this great Tzaddik with the destruction of the Bais HaMikdash! Rarely if ever do we find such testimony as to the stature of any individual.

    Hashem himself is his character witness.

    The future of Klal Yisroel was in the hands of this great Tzaddik and Gadol. His decisions were of paramount importance. Notwithstanding his greatness and piety, and the fact that he was a prophet of Hashem, Chazal tell us that he made a crucial error in halacha and in its application.
    Gedaliah refused to take protective measures against Yishmael, when he was warned by Yochanan Ben Korayach of Yishmael Ben Nesanya’s malevolent intent (Yirmiyahu 40:16).

    The consequences were quite grave indeed. Gedaliah and all his men were brutally murdered (Yirmiyahu 41:2).

    The Gemorah tells us (Niddah 61a) that Gedaliah Ben Achikam misused the halachic concept of Lashon HaRah and applied it erroneously. It was a tragic error that resulted not only in his death, the scattering of the nation, but also in the loss of Klal Yisroel’s independence as a nation. Indeed, the repercussions of his error are still felt to this day.

    The repercussions are felt in two ways. Firstly, they are felt in exact ramifications of his miscalculation – that the nation of Israel ceased to be an independent nation. But secondly, we still have not learned from his example. To this day, there are many well-meaning people who misapply the notion of Lashon HaRah in ways that can cause Klal Yisroel to err and err again.

    This is not to say, Chalilah that we should ignore the halachos of Lashon HaRah. Heaven forbid. But we must realize that there are times when we should and must sound warning bells. We may not exaggerate, but we must warn.

    The results of Gedaliah’s inaction were so grave that the Mesilas Yesharim (chapter twenty) notes that the Gemorah (Niddah 61a) considers it as if Gedaliah himself had killed all of his people! This is a remarkably thought- provoking notion.

    At times, the sin of incorrectly “sounding the Lashon Horah warning” and ignoring the information is so grave that one who does so is considered the actual perpetrator of the repercussions that have transpired on account of the silence, whether it be theft, molestation or even murder.
    The conclusions from this are quite clear.

    Firstly, the greatest of our leaders can and have erred in regard to this fine line between protecting Klal Yisroel and violating lashon Horah. There are times that it is crucial and imperative that information be given to ward off potential harm to others.

    At the same time, there are situations where it is forbidden for people to believe the information, even though they may act upon it to protect themselves. There are also times when the information should not disseminated. No matter what, however, the decision should be made in consultation with Talmidei Chachomim who are attuned to the need to protect others.

    Incorrectly sounding the “lashon horah bells and warnings” when disseminating the information is the right thing to do is a very serious offense. In Gedaliah ben Achikam’s case – it is akin to murder itself.

    The unfortunate reality is that history repeats itself. In the past VIN News, and other media, have responsibly reported information to warn others. The information ranged from warning about financial charlatans who prey on people in our community, about molesters who prey on children in our community, and about other dangers that can and have resulted in Chilul Hashem.

    Today, is a day instituted by Chazal about avoiding the tragic error of ignoring warnings and shooting the messenger. The errors of ignoring warnings were made by none other than the Gadol HaDor –a navi – Gedaliah Ben Achikam. Certainly, there is a profound lesson for all of us to be learned from here.

    Chazal place the blame of the tragedy on Gedaliah himself. Yochanan Ben Karayach’s warning about Yishmael Ben Nesanyah should have been listened to. We should all take heed of this important lesson.


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    14 Comments
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    11 years ago

    While I do think the message here is extremely important I think that most people nowadays have no problem at all telling over at least the important information if not way too much information. We all talk too much, not too little.

    Ben_Kol
    Ben_Kol
    11 years ago

    Excellent editorial. But I think you mean the*Mareh Hapanim* on Yerushalmi Horiyos 3:5 (not the Panim Me’iros).

    11 years ago

    If the problem of people not saying things they should because of a mistaken understanding of the halachos of L”H reaches 1/100 of a percent of the time people say things they shouldn’t, particularly on line, then we can start with the shmooze.

    Until that time, it is much more important to emphasize that people focus on not saying what they shouldn’t.

    11 years ago

    In a similar vein, Chazal blame the the destruction of the second Bais Hamikdash on the poor judgment and misguided piety of the Gadol Hador ,Rav Zecharya Ben Avkilas. Rav Zecharya could have prevented the destruction of the Bais Hamikdash by putting Bar Kamtza to death when the latter presented a karban with a mum — a defect that rendered it unworthy — at the Bais Hamikdash on behalf of the Roman Emperor. Bar Kamtza knew that the sacrifice would be rejected, hoping that the Emperor wouild unleash his fury on the Jewish People. Rav Zechrya refused to execute Bar Kamtza in spite of the impending tragedy. He was concerned that Bar Kamtza’s execution would be misunderstood as a punishment for bringing a defective animal into the sacred environs of the Temple. It would have been wiser to execute Bar Kamtza and worry later about what people might say. Excessive piety is not always the correct path to take.

    shalom217
    shalom217
    11 years ago

    Let’s please not forget about the people we are accusing. Although you are right on the one hand there are many situations where lives will be saved by releasing the name of a molester, there are and always will be wituations were the accused is compleatly innocent of wrongdoing and you are killing him his wife and family so that you can save others lives but meanwhile no ones life was at risk! So by doing the world a favor you just muredered a family. That might be ok when the allegaitions are true. But just imagine if they were false…. I am the son of a Rabbi who deals with these cases quite often and is a big fan of reporting and publicizing in some instances, I see how hard that decision is for him to make and by the way Rabbi Hoffman is so cavelier and nonchalent about it I feel that he has no hands on experiance with trying to figure out if you should kill off a whole family for something that might be a mistake or save them and be guilty of killing all the children that this monster will go on to kill. Its a hard call Rabbi Hoffman a hard call…..

    SamEiger
    SamEiger
    11 years ago

    The article I believe underscores the need for presenting all such shailas to a Rav. Since the L”H is waived in the presence of danger, how do we determine whther or not there is danger without undergoing a full evaluation by a Rav and professional. Once the authorities are informed the cat is out of the bag and the determiniation can no longer be made.
    This is probably one of the reasons behind the Agudah position.
    As #7 writes there is usually a lot of collateral damge from exposure so proper evaluation is needed.

    bracha18
    bracha18
    11 years ago

    people must learn the halachos of lashan hara- especially pertaining to shidduchim. After doing much research- medical history was not disclosed to me, as well as a violent temper…..after the divorce- everyone said- “we knew….but we didnt want to break up a shidduch….” well- explain that to the thousands of children- including mine- who have seen and heard unspeakable horror and experienced emotional anguish and pain….and try to dry my tears- which can easily fill an ocean’s depth. You didnt want to speak Loshon hara- to break up a shidduch- yet, now you have no problem speaking loshon hara and judging every divorced individual out there….and what about the most innocent victims- the children????? if you know something- say something!! it may save a life!! LITERALLY!!! it may save lives. if you think i am exaggerating- speak to people who deal with children from dicvorced homes…..victims of domestic violence. battered women….they exsist in our community- you never know- they may be your neighbor or even your sister. (or brother).

    Wise-Guy
    Wise-Guy
    11 years ago

    In the Talmud, these incidents come under the heading “Ahl Tehi Tzaddik Harbeh”. (Don’t be excessively pious.)

    But on the other hand, I’ve heard tell of the Chofetz-Chaim’s comment on what to do if you are seriously confused if you should say something or remain silent.
    He said that if, in the afterlife, you are confronted with the sin of remaining silent when you should have spoken, you will have an easier time exonerating yourself than if you spoke when you should have remained silent…

    But in truth, this dilemma is only Noygaya if you must make a snap-decision. Otherwise we are OBLIGATED to consult a Rav and ask what to do. If we decide on our own to remain silent (when we should have spoken) then it will NOT be at all easy to exonerate ourselves of guilt!
    Look what happened to poor # 9 !!!

    Yerachmiel
    Yerachmiel
    11 years ago

    A good first step would be educating people about toeles, a legitimate purpose as well as the other exceptions to avoiding lashon horah. Torah and the rule of lashon horah are all bound by the rule of uv’chai bahem.

    chaimmordche
    chaimmordche
    11 years ago

    Rabbi Hoffman – you have never been more right in your life and i couldnt agree with you more!! we must all take a stand for the true halachah and not for those who just say “mir tur nit these things cant happen!”!!!!!!