Daily Tanya

Even in the category of “turn away from evil,” every thinking man can discover within himself that he does not turn completely and totally away from evil,

in a situation requiring a battle of the level i.e., magnitude described above, i.e., the battle required of the kal shebekalim, or even in a situation requiring a battle of a lesser magnitude.

For example, he may find that he does not summon up the strength to stop in the middle of a pleasant gossip or in the middle of relating a tale discrediting his fellow,

as he ought to do even if it is a very slight slur, and even if it be true, and even though his purpose in relating it is to exonerate himself—

as is known from what Rabbi Shimon said to his father Rabbeinu Hakadosh concerning a problematic bill of divorce that was improperly written: “I did not write it, Yehudah the tailor wrote it,” where the slur was a minor one, and the purpose was self-vindication—and yet, his father replied: “Keep away from slander.” (Note there in the Gemara, Tractate Bava Batra, beginning of ch. 10.10)

The same applies to very many similar things which occur frequently.

This is especially true with regard to sanctifying oneself by refraining from indulgence in permitted matters—and this is a Biblical commandment,11 derived from the verses: “You shall be holy…” and “Sanctify yourselves….”12

Moreover, even according to the opinion that this commandment is not of Biblical origin, yet “Rabbinic enactments are even stricter than Biblical laws…,”13 and one will often find himself succumbing to self-indulgence when the temptation is strong and requires a battle to overcome it.

But all these and similar matters are among “the sins which people trample underfoot,”14 insensitive to their importance,

and which have come to be regarded as permissible because they are committed repeatedly.15