This night, we started the series again with an opening inspirational hashkafa (worldview) concept. Tonight, I’m going to go straight to the halacha (Jewish law). So, like this, we get back into the halachot with great chizuk (encouragement).
Who is it forbidden to speak rechilut about? Rechilut is giving over information that’s not necessarily negative, but it’s information that will cause one person to have bad feelings about somebody else. So now, think about it for a minute. When you’re speaking to relatives, how much more careful must you be? Because relatives have a tendency to be much more sensitive when you speak to them about their own relatives, especially between brothers and sisters, parents and children, and husband and wife. You have to be so careful that the information you share is not going to cause them any hurt or ill feelings. It is absolutely forbidden to speak negative information or information that will cause bad feelings—rechilut—to relatives. Why? Like we said, the nature of family is that they bear a grudge against those who embarrass their family members. And therefore, it would be absolutely asur (forbidden) to tell a woman or a man that someone was speaking negatively about their spouse. And even if you warn them not to repeat it to their spouse, it doesn’t matter. The person listening will hold a grudge against the person who spoke. It would also be asur to tell a parent that someone spoke negatively about their child. It would be asur to tell a mother that someone spoke negatively about her child, or a sister or brother that someone spoke negatively about their sibling.
As an example, somebody informs you, “Hey, don’t tell your brother, but I heard that the principal of that high school doesn’t want to accept him to the school.” Now, this is asur because there’s no question that you’re going to feel resentment against that principal for not accepting your brother to his high school. It is also about your brother, because there must be a reason why the principal doesn’t want to accept him, so you’re actually hinting and insinuating that there’s something wrong with your brother, as the reason the principal doesn’t want to accept him. Nonetheless, this is asur.
Another example: one husband turns to another husband and says, “My wife said that your wife is lazy when it comes to dealing with her kids.” Now, this is asur. It will cause that husband to bear a grudge against the other guy’s wife: “How could you talk about my wife like that? How could you say that?”
All this is in the laws of “If you have nothing good to say, don’t say anything.” Learn to compliment people, as Hashem will be complimented with the receiving of the Torah.
Broadcast was sponsored l'ilui nishmat (for the elevation of the soul) Elizabeth Henriette and her children, who passed with her in the fire as well. Also sponsored anonymously. Also sponsored anonymously for great...