JWR Outlook



Jewish World Review April 11, 2003 / 9 Nisan, 5763

You are what you speak


By Rabbi Berel Wein

http://www.jewishworldreview.com | This week's Torah portion, Metzora, deals with the plague of tzoraas, the punishment, according the Talmudic sages, for transgressing the sin of slander and abusive speech.

In contemporary society, where everyone demands the right to know everything about everyone at anytime, it is difficult to promote the ideas of privacy, correct speech and avoidance of gossip and unnecessary curiosity of others. Yet while the exact plague of tzoraas is no longer apparent in our lives, the damages of loose talk can be seen all around us. Tzoraas is not only a plague that affects the individual affected by it. Rather, it is a plague that damages society at large as well.

A civilization that approves gossip, condones verbal abuse, insults, obscenities and shameful statements, is itself already plagued. The level of public discourse, as well as that of private conversation, requires elevation and care.

A drive to arrest loshan hara (evil speech) has been prominent in the Jewish world over the last few decades. It is difficult, of course, to assess its true success, but the mere fact that such a drive was initiated and is maintained is in and of itself a positive thing.

In a world of free speech, which is certainly a basic right, self-discipline in exercising that right is necessary. Otherwise, free speech becomes destructive speech. And destructive speech must be avoided at all costs.

Ours may be a world where tzoraas is no longer an identifiable disease, but the damage resulting from evil speech is easily recognizable.

Bad speech stems from bad societal attitudes. Hatred of others, "justified" denigration of those who are different than our own narrow group, an intolerance of spirit and a narrowness of vision all combine to create evil speech and eventually bad behavior.

The Sabbath preceding Passover is known as "Shabbes HaGadol." In the haftorah (weekly reading from the Prophets), Malachi calls for charity of spirit and behavior in order to bring about the physical and spiritual redemption of Israel. The task of the Prophet Elijah at the End of Days will be one of reconciliation and harmony --- and not one of revenge and exclusion. Good and optimistic attitudes father good speech and a cheerful countenance.

Within that attitude and view of life lies the secret potion that wards off any attack of tzoraas in our midst. We are all aware that preventive medicine and warding off disease before it strikes is the best type of health maintenance and well-being. Proper attitudes towards others and the absence of evil speech is the outstanding medical advice that the Torah provides for us in this week's reading.

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JWR contributor Rabbi Berel Wein is one of Jewry's foremost historians and founder of the Destiny Foundation. He has authored over 650 tapes, books and videos which you can purchase at RabbiWein.com. Comment by clicking here or calling 1-800-499-WEIN (9346).


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© 2002, Rabbi Berel Wein