Halacha:

Lashon Harah 

Machshava:

Israel,  Mussar,  Rav Kook 

Nach:

Shmuel 

Collections: R' Shvat Ain Aya- Rav Kook's commentary on the Aggadeta of Masechet Shabbat

References: Shabbat: 56A  

Description

Rav Kook innovatively suggests "playing defense" to prevent (!) others from gossiping (or accepting gossip) about me. We have a golden opportunity here to see Rav Kook as a Tanach commentator, as he approaches the topic via answering 9 (!) difficulties on the story of Mephiboshet (Samuel ii, ch. 16-19), son of Yonatan and grandson of King Saul, vis a vis his servant Tziva (Ziba) who lied to King David who subsequently punished Mephiboshet! (as recounted in the aggadita midrash (in Masechet Shabbat 56a-b). This difficult story and passage in the Talmud raises many questions, often asked even by schoolchildren, finally makes sense with Rav Kook's innovative explanation, taking a totally new direction in his commentary on this topic in the prophet Samuel. His lesson also helps us understand how to defend from Lashon Hara, as well as giving practical guidance in running the modern State of Israel.