Lashon Harah (the language of Evil)
Avrohom Mondrowitz (avrohom.mondrowitz@telrad.co.il)
Tue, 23 Sep 1997 10:19:06 +0200
In answer to Karen Binney's question of "are jokes about an individual or
group (usually degratory - my addition) considered Loshon Hara, if you look
in the very first verse of Thillim (Psalms), King David clearly states
"and in a group of 'Leitzim' he was not sitting". There is a difference
between humor and "Leitzonut". The Ibn Ezra as well as the Metzudat Tzion
both explain that a "Letz" tends to besmirch another's honor or name in a
way that seems innocuous and therefore settles itself in one's heart
easier. This is a different matter than Loshon Horah. The Chafetz Chaim,
the author of the the definitive "Shmirat Halashon" explains that the sin
of "Letzonut" is on a par with speaking Loshon Harah.
Avrohom Mondrowitz,
Jerusalem