Lesson #37: The Apikorus
The Halachic definition of “Apikorus” is somebody who denies the authority of either the written text of the Torah or the oral Halachic tradition – even if he denies just a single verse in the Torah, or a single precept of the Torah. If a person heard somebody explicitly express heretical beliefs which render him an Apikorus, or if that fellow is a known Apikorus, having established a reputation for holding heretical beliefs, then he may speak Lashon Ha’ra about him, and demean him both in his presence and in the presence of others. If, however, one merely heard about somebody’s heretical beliefs, and did not actually hear that fellow espouse heresy, then he may not speak Lashon Ha’ra about him or speak to or about him in a demeaning manner based purely on hearsay. Even in such a case, one may notify people about what he heard in order to alert them to the possibility that the fellow may be an Apikorus, so that they exercise caution not to come under his influence.
During the decades preceding World War II, the heretical Haskala movement swept through Europe, arguing that Jews need to modernize and become like the gentiles in order to “fit in” and gain acceptance. The adherents of this movement urged Jews to stop observing Shabbat, to dress like the non-Jews, to eat non-kosher food, and to abandon religious practice, claiming that Torah life was “old fashioned” and no longer appropriate. The leading Rabbis of the time vehemently and forcefully opposed this movement, openly and publicly denouncing the Apikorsim who promoted it, in order that the Jews would stay away from them. This is a clear example of how Lashon Ha’ra is permitted in the case of an Apikorus for the sake of protecting the Jewish community from harmful heretical influences.
Another example is the unfortunate situation that arose in the years following the establishment of the State of Israel, when Jewish immigrants from Middle Eastern countries flocked to Israel, and many were housed in transit camps until permanent housing become available. The government sent agents to the camps to try to modernize the new immigrants and pull them away from Torah Judaism. They placed the children in schools and kibbutzim where they were taught about the need to abandon the “old-fashioned” beliefs and practices, and blend into the new, European-style society in Israel. I have heard such stories from Moroccan Jews who moved to Israel, and from Yemenite Jews with whom I learned in yeshiva, whose Pe’ot were cut off when they arrived in Israel. Many leading Torah sages instructed activists to secretly break into these camps in the middle of the night to warn the families about what was being done, and to urge parents not to send their children to these schools. Even though the parents were told by the officials in charge that the schools were teaching Torah, this was just a tactic, when in reality, the children were being taught heresy. It was deemed imperative that the parents be informed of this ploy in order to protect their children.
When there are heretics seeking to rob Jews of their Judaism, then the laws of Lashon Ha’ra are put aside for the purpose of taking a strong stand and protecting Jews from these spiritually destructive influences.