Parsha Corner: Parshas Bahalosecha – Lashon Hara
The Passuk in Parshas Ki Seitzei says,
“Zachor es asher asah Hashem Elokecha l’Miriam baderech.”
The Chofetz Chaim, in his sefer on the laws of lashon hara, explains that this verse teaches us it’s actually a mitzvah to regularly remind ourselves—out loud—of the punishment Miriam received for speaking lashon hara about her brother, Moshe Rabbeinu.
Now, just think about that for a second. Miriam loved Moshe deeply. She risked her life for him as a baby. What she said was subtle—it just slightly lowered his honor by comparing him to other neviim. It was said in private. Moshe himself didn’t even feel insulted. And still, Hashem gave her a severe punishment of tzaraas.
If that’s what happened to someone as great and holy as Miriam, over something so seemingly small, how much more careful do we need to be with our words?
In this week’s Parsha, when Hashem rebukes Aharon and Miriam for what they said about Moshe, He says,
“V’lama lo yir’asem l’daber b’avdi b’Moshe – Why were you not afraid to speak about My servant, about Moshe?”
Rashi points out that the double language—b’avdi b’Moshe—teaches us that besides the general issur of speaking lashon hara about any Jew, there’s an added prohibition when it’s about a tzadik or talmid chacham.
The Chofetz Chaim adds a powerful point. If someone’s lashon hara about a gadol causes others to lose respect for that gadol—and that leads people to stop listening to his guidance or being inspired by him—then the speaker carries the responsibility for that too.
May we all be zocheh to guard our tongues and stay far away from lashon hara.
Rabbi Anton