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What common shittas on hilchos loshon hora exist that are different, either l’chumra or l’kula or otherwise different in whatever respects, than the Chofetz Chaim’s shittas?
How common is it that the klal, or parts thereof, follow other shittas where it differs from the Chofetz Chaim?
“How common is it that the klal, or parts thereof, follow other shittas where it differs from the Chofetz Chaim?”
all the time, especially {name censored} from Passaic who talks lashon hara non-stop about {name censored} from Cedahurst how much of a ganaf he is since he stole all that money from that nebuch…..
In a situation where one is asked for information based on a legitimate need (such as for a shidduch) about a person whom he personally dislikes, the Chofetz Chaim rules that he may not divulge any information which would be considered Lashon Hara unless he can do so without feeling any personal pleasure; otherwise he has committed Lashon Hara.
[His proof to this is that the Mitzriyim were punished even though they fulfilled the Ratzon Hashem of Ger yihyeh zaracha… He argues that they were held responsible because they took pleasure at making the Bnei Yisrael suffer.]
Many Poskim disagree and are of the opinion that although he may not take pleasure at telling the information, he is still required to share it even if he can not help but enjoy telling. This would not be a violation of Lashon Hara, although it is clearly prohibited.
[The Ramban in Chumash says the Mitzriyim were punished because they were not compelled to be the ones to carry out the edict against the Bnei Yisrael.]
My Shita is very different. I am Meikil. Also, Dina Demalchusa is to be Meikel. And as we’ve learned in the hallowed chat chambers of the CoffeeRoom, nothing trumps that.
Joseph, If you see the Chofetz Chaim’s sefer you see that he leans towards stringency. I once read some of an article showing that the Chofetz Chaim was very stringent when it came to loshon hara.
JT, he might have gotten the cue from Chazal who were stringent about it as well.
Maybe in hashkafah/aggadatah. But in halacha, it seems they were quite lenient. Ever heard of the heter of in front of 3? Just from the Gemara, it is very lenient but the medieval commentators limit its application and the Chofetz Chaim takes a pretty stringent shittah in explaining that Gemara which basically renders the leniency basically, practically, inapplicable.
I disagree with my above post. I think that the Chofetz Chaim is chosesh for the Rambam’s interpretation which is more lenient and not just Tosafos in a certain Masechta (forgot which one)
Please see the sefer Chofetz Chaim
I have heard b’sheim R’ Chaim that he argued with the Chafetz Chaim about discussing public figures – he felt that this like אומן על אומנתו, and you may discuss anything a public figure does in the public arena. Does anyone know a mekor for this?
Why would a public figure be different than an average citizen?
I can hear a chilik between an act (by anyone) in the public arena versus a private act.
I don’t know if an act performed publicly is considered “public arena” by somebody whose job isn’t to be public.
If the heter is based on אומן על אומנתו, then that could only be for someone who is a public agent.
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