Negative Speech (Lashon Hora)

Which crime is worse, financial exploitation or verbal abuse? “Money can be reimbursed,” the Talmud notes, “but the hurt from words is irreparable . . .”

Words carry the potential of causing catastrophic harm, often tearing asunder families and friendships. The destructive power of negative speech is only surpassed by the beneficial power of positive speech...

We find that lashon hara, slanderous talk, is a sin that has caused numerous tragedies for the Jewish people, and indeed the world, since the very beginning of history.

Bad mouthing others is an ugly character flaw. There are two ways to combat this natural tendency.

In a small town somewhere in Eastern Europe lived a nice man with a nasty problem: he talked too much about other people . . .

Sticks and stones break bones, but the damage wrought by negative words reaches far deeper, to the very soul

The weekly reading that speaks of Noach, as interpreted in Chassidus, contains several psychological insights which are highly relevant today. As we all know, the best psychology is found in the Torah (because HaShem is the best psychologist; as the ...

"He's qualified to pass judgement," said the Chassidic master. "He has a personal interest in the matter. He is preaching only because he is in need of funds to marry off his daughter..."

The Baal Shem Tov did not tell them where to go, nor did they ask; they allowed divine providence to direct their wagon where it may, confident that the purpose of their trip would be revealed in due time.

Departure from Sinai, The People Ask For Meat, The Seventy Elders, Miriam's Sin