Lesson #80: The Eruv
The prohibition of Rechilut forbids sharing information with somebody about another person that will likely lead the listener to harbor negative feelings toward the person spoken about. In addition, the listener is not permitted to believe the information shared with him.
This Halacha applies even to information shared publicly. If a person informs a group of people about what somebody did or said about them, which will arouse within them negative feelings toward that individual, the speaker has transgressed this prohibition, and the group may not be believe what he said. The group might feel that since the information was shared publicly, it must be true, because people are unlikely to lie publicly, taking the risk that they will be exposed as dishonest. In truth, however, even negative information shared publicly may not be believed.
A true story about a group of neighbors highlights this Halacha. These people lived in an apartment building, and one day they worked together to erect an Erub around the yard of the building, so they would be allowed to carry in the yard on Shabbat. As they worked, somebody approached them and complimented them on their cooperation and friendship.
“It looks like you all get along really well together,” he remarked. “I find that amazing, because my brother-in-law was considering moving into this building, but he asked Reuven about it, and Reuven told him that the families in this building don’t get along well and are always fighting. I’m very impressed that you’re actually working well together as friends.”
This fellow violated the prohibition of Rechilut, by informing the neighbors that Reuven is telling people that they do not get along with one another. And the group is not allowed to believe what they heard. They are to completely dismiss the report, and continue speaking to and treating Reuven with respect, as though they never heard that he was speaking negatively about them. Even though this information was shared in a public setting, it may not be believed.
As we’ve mentioned in the past, if someone is told that another person is working to cause him any sort of harm, then he is allowed to act upon the information for the purpose of protecting himself, taking necessary measures to avoid the harm that the other fellow is allegedly seeking to inflict. Even in such a case, however, he is not permitted to conclusively accept that the information is true.
We desperately need more Jews getting along with one another and avoiding conflict and strife. And so when we see a group of fellow Jews working peacefully together, let us ensure not to do anything to sow tension, because it is likely that those Jews are the ones bringing the final redemption closer.