Reply To: Kabbalas Loshon Horo

Does that make sense to you? And would it have been possible and effective?

No. This person didn’t actually say anything; it was much more subtle than that. It was something he did, not something he said. And, if I could believe this Talmid Chacham’s son (who was present, and filled me in), it was the third time doing the same thing.

If the history wasn’t true, then I cannot accuse him of doing anything even remotely disrespectful. The whole humiliation only came because their history was so widely circulated.

btw, I am extremely impressed that you had the guts to do that!! I don’t think I would have.

I wouldn’t have expected it of myself either. I am a very non-confrontational person by nature, unless it is in learning. I shy away from hostile situations. But I was so angry when I heard everyone present discussing and pointing, yet not a single other person made a move, I decided to speak for everyone.

Side note – the incident took place on Friday night; on Sunday morning this askan called up the Talmid Chochom to apologize.

The Talmid Chochom told me afterwards that I shouldn’t have said anything; he said there’s nothing wrong with letting the other guy have the satisfaction of the “last dig”, and he would rather nobody made a big deal out of it. I told him that I felt it necessary to stand up for Kovod HaTorah; he responded that I should farher him before I classify him as a Talmid Chochom.