Halacha:

Lashon Harah 

Machshava:

Mussar 

Collections: R' Shvat Orchot Tzadikim

Description

It's especially problematic to scare children, and "I was only joking" is not an excuse for Lashon HaRah. Similarly, the concept of "it takes one to know one" should encourage people not to talk bad about others, for you may be "projecting" your own faults. Today's class also (somewhat) reveals the identity of the author of Orchot Tzaddikim, for he (as previously!) holds like the maverick opinion of the Smag regarding giving others the benefit of the doubt, which he holds is a Torah prohibition! He also holds that revealing a secret, even after many years, is also a Torah prohibition.