It is a pleasure to have you here, joining thousands of yehudim in many parts of the world who share the same purpose. The chofetz chaim or chafetz chaim or hafetz hayim hebrew. With the appearance of a new, english translation of the classic sefer chafetz chaim on hilchos lashon hara, the englishspeaking public will indeed be able to benefit from the allimportant. Even if one hears ones young children speaking lashon hara, it is a mitzvah to rebuke them and stop them as it says. Chofetz chaim, introduction to the laws of the prohibition. In just a few minutes a day, you can master the laws of lashon hara, with this easytoread sefer which presents the essential rulings of the sefer chafetz.
He notes that is because it prevents the fullfilment of the conditions in particular the sin will be exaggerated when the speaker is angry. Srs the concepts and laws of proper speech arranged for daily study. This book has been republished in recent years in a halachaaday over the course of a year format. Morgenstern shmiras halashon section this class is based upon the chofetz chaim written by rabbi yisrael meir kagan, more commonly known as the chofetz chaim due to the popularity of his book. Lashon hara evil talk, or evil tongue marcs musings. The concise chofetz chaim a page a day jewish books. Chofetz chaim quoting a midrash, sefer zchor lmiriam ch. The laws of lashon hara are too lengthy to include in one article. With this concise book, translated from the popular hebrew edition, and based on the chafetz chaims famous sefer chafetz chaim, you can master the relevant. Shemiras halashon, proper speech, is the secret to a happy, fulfilling existence, grounded in peace and harmony instead of the strife and sadness brought on by lashon hara, evil speech.
He preached about the dangers of gossip, of lashon hara. In this fascinating book, the chofetz chaims teachings and insights about the laws and sanctity of speech are distilled in 178 daily readings. And this is termed everywhere by chazal lashon hara. The chofetz chaim stated on more than one occasion that as soon as the sin of lashon hara was fixed, the exile would end and the moshiach would come. Indeed it does, offering extensive treatment of issues relating to journalism in general. Hilchos lashon hara chapter 9, section 1 the law regarding dust of lashon hara there are things forbidden as dust of lashon hara. The chofetz chaim went so far as to say that lashon hara can kill. A lesson a day the concepts and laws of proper speech arranged for daily study. Desirer of life is a book on the jewish laws of speech written by rabbi yisrael meir kagan the title of the work chafetz chaim by rabbi yisrael meir kagan is taken from psalms 34.
The book deals with the jewish ethics of lashon hara evil speech or loosely gossip and slander and prohibitions of defamation and is considered the authoritative source on the subject. The book deals with the jewish ethics of lashon hara evil speech or loosely gossip and slander and. Sefer chafetz chayim 4 volumes chofetz chaim books. The reader should not find it astounding that even though my entire sefer is based on halachic principles and conclusions, but i nevertheless cite in a number of places proofs from rabbeinu yonahs sefer shaarei teshuva which is a mussar book not halacha. Better than your grandmothers lashon hora crosscurrents. Lashon hara project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks.
Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Sefer chofetz chaim, on which this book is based, is a sefer of halacha on the laws of forbidden speech. The most basic book available on the laws of lashon hara is the sefer of the chofetz chaim, called. One major example that comes up time and time again is a way to stop someone from sinning. Lashon hara is a perspective and a thought process which ultimately leads to. The chafetz chaim lists 31 mitzvot which may be violated when a person speaks or listens to lashon hara. Lashon hara also known as leshon hara or loshen horoh is scandalmongering. The chofetz chaim concludes that there is a dispute regarding hitting but for lashon harah even the taz would agree that you cant speak lashon harah to benefit others if you do it from anger.
I will teach you the fear of god who is the man that desires life. But if one knows a person is a heretic it is a mitzvah to disparage and shame him in his presence or otherwise regarding whatever one sees him do or hears about him. The hafetz hayyim desirer of life is the magnum opus of rabbi yisrael meir kagan. What emerges from the study of the chofetz chaims writing is that lashon hara is not just speaking negatively. The prayer is provided in both english and hebrew, so both laypeople and scholars can enjoy it. In 1873, my greatgreatgreat grandfather, rabbi yisroel meir kagan, wrote a book on the biblical laws prohibiting lashon haragossip and slander. The sefer chafetz chaim or chofetz chaim or hafetz hayim hebrew.
Rabbi yisroel meir is perhaps best known for his campaign to teach his fellow jews about the laws of lashon hara forbidden speech. Read the text of chofetz chaim online with commentaries and connections. When he was 35 1873 he published his first book, chofetz chaim, which was devoted to this topic. Chofetz chaim, part one, the prohibition against lashon hara. It has been said that lashon hara disparaging speech kills three. The set of books by the chofetz chaim includes the hebrew text with english. Israel meir kagan 18381933, talmudic and rabbinic scholar, ethical and religious teacher, is venerated by jews all over the world, especially those in the. Yedidya levy read the book online vol 1 scroll down for vol 2 read the book online vol 2 scroll down for vol. Lashon hara, meaning evil speech or loosely gossip and. In the laws of lashon hara and rechilus, these crucial halachos are organized in a systematic and comprehensive fashion, with the goal of presenting a clear sefer of practical halachah for todays reader.
In 1873, my greatgreatgreat grandfather, rabbi yisroel meir kagan, wrote a book on the biblical laws prohibiting gossip and slander. In jewish law, all things are considered to be secret unless a person specifically says otherwise. Rav yisroel meir hakohen of radin ztl known as the chofetz chaim, was one of the most. The book was called chofetz chaim, seeker of life, and his followers started calling its author by the same name. For example to say, who would have thought that so and so would turn out as he is now, or, dont speak about so and so. Desirer of life is the magnum opus of rabbi yisrael meir kagan, who later became known simply as the chofetz chaim. Evil speak is basically any gossip, or speaking bad about other people. Chofetz chaim, introduction to the laws of the prohibition of lashon hara and rechilut. Shmiras halashon yeshiva world news the yeshiva world. Its known that the chofetz chaim believed that lashon hara, or evil speech, was the main cause of our long, bitter exile. Among these laws, the principles of shmiras haloshon harnessing the awesome power.
The book deals with the jewish ethics and laws of speech, and is considered the authoritative source on the subject. Even though one does not generally violate them all in one shot, it is important to remember how. The 31 prohibitions and positive commandments relating to lashon hara the following is adapted from pages 26 of guard your tongue a practical guide to the laws of lashon hara based on the chofetz chaim by rabbi zelig pliskin. Join tens of thousands of people around the world who are transforming their lives with the power of compassionate speech. In fact, rabbi israel meir hakohen of radin wrote an entire book about these laws. Sefer shmiras halashon is a work of hashkafa torah. He is most closely associated, however, with the volume chofetz chaim desires life, which documents the laws and parameters of the jewish prohibition against lashon hara, speaking ill of others. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available. A case in point is the very topic of his chofetz chaim gossip and witty character assassination are not twentieth century phenomena. The baal lashon hara power of speech chofetz chaim heritage. This influential 20thcentury jewish figure established his reputation first and foremost as an opponent of lashon hara, evil speech. Mazal elul congregation co mazal press 2017 east 17th street brooklyn, ny 11229 email.
Prayer of chofetz chaim to prevent lashon hara free download. Gossip, rumors and lashon hara evil speech my jewish. Welcome to halajot lh lashon hara, your mitzvot machine. Among the thousands of halachas in which the chofetz chaim lays out when not to speak lashon hora, he gives many many times where it is permissible and many examples of things that do not constitute lashon hora, even if it may seem not so on the surface. Books of rabbi yisrael meir hakohen kagan the chofetz chaim. To focus on the shortcomings of another person is wrong. A statement that could potentially bring harm to someone be it financial, physical, psychological, or. Rabbi yisrael meir kagan chafetz chaim seforim center. Lashon hara is considered to be prohibited by the bible on the basis of leviticus 19. The speaker and the receiver of lashon hara also transgress vayikra 22.
In giving jews the torah, gd granted them a system of laws and beliefs designed to elevate the human personality to a lofty state. The book deals with the jewish ethics of lashon hara evil speech or. The book s subtitle, lashon hara in contemporary culture, suggests that it will offer the reader insights into application of hilchos lashon hora to conditions and institutions that were not around in the time of the chofetz chaim, who died in 1933. English edition of chofetz chaim released the yeshiva world. In just a few minutes a day, you can master the laws of lashon hara, with this easytoread sefer which presents the essential rulings of the sefer chafetz chaim according to the daily learning schedule of harav yehudah zev segal ztl, the manchester rosh yeshiva. Sefer chofetz chaim thats how the chofetz chaim became known by this name. The chofetz chaim defined lashon hara as information which is either derogatory or potentially harmful to another individual, even if it will not cause that person any harm. The book is called chafetz chaim which caused the author to be known as the chafetz chaim too. As an added feature, the book includes anecdotes from his personal life, and a comprehensive overview as well as practical strategies for guarding our speech. The title of the work chafetz chaim by rabbi yisrael meir kagan is taken. Hilchos lashon hara chapter 8, section 5 6 lashon hara only applies when spoken against someone with you amitecha, that is, someone who is with you in torah observance.
A daily companion a lesson a day sefer chofetz chaim. It shows the consequences of such actions and goes on to outline a. The chofetz chaim ztl, on his 80th yahrtzeit, today, 24 elul. The concise chofetz chaim a page a day revised and expanded edition includes close to 200 stories. As we have already noted, the chofetz chaim wrote two works on lashon hara. This book based on two works of the chofetz chaim that have never been translated offers a program for daily study in timely topics that are basic the response to already published dailylesson works which address this need has been overwhelming. The talmud says, most people are guilty of dishonesty, few of. Culled from sefer chafetz chaim, this work also includes hundreds of rulings from contemporary poskim addressing many modernday sheeilos. Stories abound about the chofetz chaims legendary humility, sensitivity, and.