Dear Matzav Inbox,
How has it become acceptable—dare I say, commonplace—for any Yid to casually share a message on WhatsApp, broadcasting it to hundreds or even thousands, without first completing Sefer Shemiras HaLashon? Does the weight of Hilchos Lashon Hara no longer sit heavily on our shoulders? Have we forgotten the power of a single word, let alone the ripple effects of one viral post?
Our Chachamim teach us that the tongue is like a sharp sword. Yet today, with a simple tap on a screen, we can wound not one person but countless others. How can one share a voice note, a message, or even an innocent “forward” without ensuring it aligns with the intricate laws outlined by the Chofetz Chaim? Can anyone confidently say, “I know the halachos well enough to guarantee that this post will not lead to harm, embarrassment, or worse”?
It’s not just an issue of ignorance; it’s a question of yiras Shamayim. Before we release anything into the world, we must ask ourselves: Do I know the halachos of Lashon Hara and Rechilus thoroughly? Am I prepared to stand before the Bais Din Shel Maalah and justify every word I wrote or shared?
The ubiquity of WhatsApp has blurred the lines between private conversations and public declarations. But halacha doesn’t change with technology. The same rules that govern Lashon Hara in speech apply to text, voice notes, and forwarded links. Yet, how many among us truly know these laws well enough to navigate this digital world safely?
Before posting, have you learned—and internalized—Sefer Shemiras HaLashon? Can I test you on it? Until then, silence may be your safest—and only— option.
D. Y.
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