A Lesson A Day 18 Kislev, 5768 / November 28, 2007 Day 77 - Shifting The Blame
A Lesson A Day
18 Kislev, 5768 / November 28, 2007
SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
Day 77 – Shifting the Blame
Yet another situation where negative speech may be in order is where one is the victim of false accusation and wishes to divulge the identity of the real culprit to vindicate himself. Whether or not this is permissible depends on the nature of the crime.
If the crime is of a type that would halachically, by Jewish law, require the observer to inform either the victim or others of the culprit’s identity, he should do so.
If there is no constructive purpose in revealing the culprit’s identity other than to vindicate oneself, it would be forbidden for the accused to name the culprit. The accused should declare his innocence and refrain from incriminating anyone else.
In a situation where only two people are possible suspects, which means that a denial on the part of one is tantamount to an accusation against the other, it is permissible to deny the charges provided that the act committed was indeed improper. However, if the alleged offense was, in fact, an innocent statement or action, the accused should not deny it. Denial would implicate the other person who, in this case, is guilty of no real crime.
It is a middas chassidus (measure of piety) to accept the blame in all cases, unless revealing the identity of the guilty party serves a constructive purpose. Also, one should not accept the blame for an act which would reflect badly on the community or on observant Jews in general, as this would constitute a chilul Hashem, desecration of God’s name.
SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON
The Tragedy of Strife
There is something most astonishing about those who are bent toward strife.
If the child of one of these people would be slightly injured by someone, even unintentionally, the father would castigate the culprit with fury. If the child would be hurt intentionally and become bedridden because of his wounds, the angry father would publicly denounce the attacker — even after the child had recovered — as a cruel, violent individual. The father would not rest until he felt that he had dealt the guilty party a blow commensurate with his callous deed. The man of strife would harbor eternal hatred toward the person who caused his child harm.
As stated above, even infants may be included in Divine retribution meted out to those who are parties to strife. Yet the man of strife does not consider for a moment that he himself brings untold harm — and even death, Heaven forfend — upon his children because of his sinful ways. Tragically, it is the way of quarrelers to involve their wives, children and other relatives in their disputes. Such was the way of Dasan and Aviram, as the Torah states: “Dasan and Aviram went out erect at the entrance of their tents, with their wives, children and infants” (Bamidbar 16:27).
Thus, it is written, “The children gather the wood, but it is the fathers who ignite the fire” (Yirmiyahu 7:18). The evil inclination blinds these people, so that they and their loved ones stumble into the abyss below.
18 Kislev, 5768 / November 28, 2007
SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
Day 77 – Shifting the Blame
Yet another situation where negative speech may be in order is where one is the victim of false accusation and wishes to divulge the identity of the real culprit to vindicate himself. Whether or not this is permissible depends on the nature of the crime.
If the crime is of a type that would halachically, by Jewish law, require the observer to inform either the victim or others of the culprit’s identity, he should do so.
If there is no constructive purpose in revealing the culprit’s identity other than to vindicate oneself, it would be forbidden for the accused to name the culprit. The accused should declare his innocence and refrain from incriminating anyone else.
In a situation where only two people are possible suspects, which means that a denial on the part of one is tantamount to an accusation against the other, it is permissible to deny the charges provided that the act committed was indeed improper. However, if the alleged offense was, in fact, an innocent statement or action, the accused should not deny it. Denial would implicate the other person who, in this case, is guilty of no real crime.
It is a middas chassidus (measure of piety) to accept the blame in all cases, unless revealing the identity of the guilty party serves a constructive purpose. Also, one should not accept the blame for an act which would reflect badly on the community or on observant Jews in general, as this would constitute a chilul Hashem, desecration of God’s name.
SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON
The Tragedy of Strife
There is something most astonishing about those who are bent toward strife.
If the child of one of these people would be slightly injured by someone, even unintentionally, the father would castigate the culprit with fury. If the child would be hurt intentionally and become bedridden because of his wounds, the angry father would publicly denounce the attacker — even after the child had recovered — as a cruel, violent individual. The father would not rest until he felt that he had dealt the guilty party a blow commensurate with his callous deed. The man of strife would harbor eternal hatred toward the person who caused his child harm.
As stated above, even infants may be included in Divine retribution meted out to those who are parties to strife. Yet the man of strife does not consider for a moment that he himself brings untold harm — and even death, Heaven forfend — upon his children because of his sinful ways. Tragically, it is the way of quarrelers to involve their wives, children and other relatives in their disputes. Such was the way of Dasan and Aviram, as the Torah states: “Dasan and Aviram went out erect at the entrance of their tents, with their wives, children and infants” (Bamidbar 16:27).
Thus, it is written, “The children gather the wood, but it is the fathers who ignite the fire” (Yirmiyahu 7:18). The evil inclination blinds these people, so that they and their loved ones stumble into the abyss below.
posted by Andrea @ 5:03 PM
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