I would like to propose an idea that's been brewing in my head for a while now. Here at Hashkafah.com one of the main things we do is talk about stuff. Speech has the power to better or destroy this world. A person has to know how to speak. I therefore would like to propose the Hashkafah.com Shmiras Halashon Program. It would involve about 3 minutes of your time each day to simply read through the Chofetz Chaim Daily Companion email and/or it can be posted in a dedicated thread. We can discuss the halachos in a dedicated thread (possibly this one). In the zechus of doing this may all the tefilos of all h.commers be answered and most importantly it will help bring Moshiach Tzidkeynu!

Here is an example -- today's halacha:

Shmiras Haloshon Yomi
29 Tishrei, 5765 / October 14, 2004

Day 28 - Points to Ponder

SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM — Laws of Loshon Hora 1:7-9

Consider the following situation:

You are sitting at a wedding and some people at your table begin denigrating someone. One person turns to you and says, “Didn’t you go to school with him? Was he always this way?”

Now you are faced with a test. Will you attempt to change the topic, or do you succumb and add your piece of loshon hora to the conversation?

A difficult test? Perhaps. But it will surely be made easier if you give thought to the following advice from the Chofetz Chaim.

Take stock of what you are about to do. If you remain strong and refuse to speak loshon hora, there may be people who will consider you self righteous — something that anyone would want to avoid. On the other hand, if you falter and speak loshon hora, you will have much more to deal with, for you will face embarrassment in the World of Truth, before the King of all Kings, Hashem.

The Chofetz Chaim quotes the teaching of our Sages: “Better to be considered a fool your entire life than to have Hashem think of you as a rasha (wicked person) for even a moment.”

The Chofetz Chaim adds that it is precisely regarding such situations, where one feels pressured to speak loshon hora and does not succumb, that our Sages say, ”For every moment that a person closes his mouth [and refrains from speaking loshon hora] he merits a hidden light that no angel or earthly creature can fathom.”

In this segment, the Chofetz Chaim teaches us about non-verbal loshon hora, the type we refer to as “body language.” As we all know, a wink of the eye or a twitch of the nose can sometimes communicate major statements about someone’s personality or behavior. Such communication carries the full halachic weight of the prohibitions regarding loshon hora. Written loshon hora is also included in these prohibitions.

In concluding this opening chapter, which discusses common misconceptions about loshon hora, the Chofetz Chaim notes, “Even if you include yourself when denigrating someone, you have still spoken loshon hora.”

It is important to note that this type of loshon hora is forbidden even if the reputation of the speaker is also damaged. Including oneself in a derogatory remark does not make it permissible.

Dedicated L’ilui Nishmas HaRav Avigdor Miller zt”l

and tblc”t as a z’chus for a Refuah Shleima for Chana Ettel bas Sheina Miller

By Robbie and Judy Neuman and family

So whaddaya think? Are y'all up to it? If you are, please send an email to dcompanion@chofetzchaimusa.org with the subject subscribe or click this link [email=dcompanion@chofetzchaimusa.org?subject=subscribe]dcompanion@chofetzchaimusa.org?subject=subscribe[/email] and your default email program will pop-up with all the necessary info - just press send.

I second that. Thank you, BTDT!

How about no more netgative comments about the Zionists?

I meant negative.

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We should All do our part to Not be negative.

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To All Jews, how about seeing fellow Jews in general in a positive light. Thinking leads to feeling which leads to speaking and writing which leads to consequences. And so if you change the way you view them and try to see the positive, you'll have more love for them. We should Not wait for someone else to do it 1st. We should focus on working on ourself.

Plus, there are many consequences to loshon hara like being judged in the heavenly court every time you spread it. And bringing bad things on yourself. I heard it's like calling the police and asking them to come arrest you. lol

What if you need to say something about someone, to protect people? Then you follow the rules of l'toeles. That's why it's good to learn a lesson a day from the Chofetz Chaim. email dcompanion@chofetzchaimusa.org with subject 'subscribe'

Does anyone know where to get the kuntreisim "Ponim Chadashos?" These were published weekly by Reb Chaim Shoulson, who was known as the Chofetz Chaim Shoulson as he was a living example of what the orig Chofetz Chaim meant in his sforim.

how about no more gossip.

There's always another choice in the above scenario: say something positive..

I agree totally with this project!

It's totally too late. My life has already been irreparably destroyed by people who like to talk about things they ought not talk about.

It can never recover.

But what about those others who we might be ableto save? Should we not try?

Dig up some 1967 threads as well and totally agree with them, why don't you ?

yeah, and less hatin'