Hayom Yom: Cheshvan 13

The Baal Shem Tov used to instruct his disciples in a regular Gemara study-session. His style of study was with great acuity and brilliance, and included a study of Rambam, Alfasi, Rosh and other commentaries of the Rishonim (early commentators) germane to the Gemara-text under examination. The Baal Shem Tov would translate the words (of the text) into Yiddish. When studying in Eirchin 15b the passage "The third tongue1 kills three persons," the Baal Shem Tov translated and explained: Lashon hara (the evil tongue; slander) kills all three, the inventor of the slander, the one who relates it and the listener. This is all in spiritual terms, which is more severe than physical murder.