Lesson #27: Verifying the Matter
Anything that is forbidden to be spoken is forbidden to be believed. Negative information that is shared in violation of the prohibition of Lashon Ha’ra may not be accepted as truth. This applies regardless of whether the information was communicated verbally, or in writing. One violates the prohibition of Lashon Ha’ra by disseminating negative information about someone in writing, no less than one does by disseminating negative information about someone through the spoken word. Hence, just as one may not believe Lashon Ha’ra which he hears somebody speak, he may not believe written Lashon Ha’ra which he reads.
Although it is forbidden to believe Lashon Ha’ra, it is permissible to try to verify the matter, to make inquiries in an effort to determine whether the information is true, in order to protect oneself from potential harm or damage. An example of this Halacha is a case of somebody who wishes to perform construction on his house, and he asks his two neighbors for their approval. One of the two neighbors approaches the other and informs him that the plans they were shown were not the real the plans, and the person actually intends to build something several times larger, to which they most certainly cannot agree. Although the second neighbor is not permitted to believe the information, nevertheless, since this is a matter of potential damage, he is allowed to try to verify the information and determine whether it is true, in order to protect himself.
The Midrash teaches us that when the third Bet Ha’mikdash is built, there will not be an appeal. If there would be an appeal, we can imagine that everybody – everybody! – would rush to donate every penny they could for this loftiest of all building projects. People would vie to sponsor as many bricks as possible. But the Rabbis teach that the bricks of the third Bet Ha’mikdash will be “sponsored” not through money, but by refraining from Lashon Ha’ra, by refusing to believe Lashon Ha’ra, by not promoting hatred among Jews, and by advancing peace among Jews. The more we do this, the more bricks of the third Bet Ha’mikdash we have the privilege of “sponsoring.” And when Mashiah comes, he will make known who “sponsored” the building, in whose merit we were deemed worthy of the third and final Bet Ha’mikdash.