Lashon Harah Day 59, Shabbos Day 53

0:00We're on day 59 of learning Lashonara 3 minutes a day. Oh, it's chapter 2, we're starting a brand new chapter. Toele, which means that means constructive, asking for and responding to negative information. We have learned that the wisdom of the Torah allows and indeed even requires that negative speech be used positively whenever it is necessary to do so. The primary reason for the prohibition of Lashonara is the harm, discord, or lower esteem that it causes. However, when one's purpose is to avoid harm and loss, or to recreate more peace, avoid discord or restore loss, it is permitted under the conditions we have discussed at length. Researching other people and answering the questions asked about them for a constructive purpose is another aspect of this leniency. Indeed, the Torah permits and encourages us to do what is needed to look after our and

1:00other people's lives, possessions, and spiritual growth. To prevent future loss. It is permitted to ask others about a potential employee, business partner, or marriage partner, even though the reply may include Lashonara. This is because such information will prevent problems before the partnership or shittakh, the match, gets off the ground. Even if the response may be negative, which would normally constitute Lashonara, it is still permitted to ask because the aim of asking was not to malign or hurt, but rather to prevent future problems. There is, however, a protocol that must be applied before such inquiries are permitted. One, when asking, one must specify the reason he is asking. If one did not explain the reason, asking would be prohibited. This is because it causes the one asked to say Lashonara without a permitted reason, constituting the prohibition of placing a stumbling block in front of the blind. Two, if one receives negative information and responds to his or her question, one may

2:01not believe it is true. Instead, one is permitted to be cautious regarding the matter and protect himself based on the information. Three, one may ask anyone who has an existing hatred, one may not ask anyone who has an existing hatred about the subject. Included in this is one of his business competitors. This is true for two reasons. Firstly, due to the fact that the subject is in competition with him, it is unlikely that he will answer with plain facts, but rather with lies and exaggeration. Secondly, he will likely reply with the intent to malign the subject, which is Lashonara, instead of for constructive purposes as he is required to do. Asking such a person is effectively an easy way for the person to rekindle his hatred for the person even if he denies it. And four, even after receiving negative information for legitimate purposes, one may not repeat the information to others. If it is necessary to repeat such information to others for the constructive benefit of helping them, one must emphasize that he did not see it himself, one merely heard it from another. Here's an example.

3:03I need a good plumber to fix some issues in my house. I wanted to ask you a few questions about Elon, as I heard that you have used him in the past. Did you find him to be reasonably priced? Have you found his work to be of a high standard? If you need to call him back, is he willing to come? Even though the answer is given, maybe negative, quote, he is much more expensive compared to the other plumbers, or I always have to call him back because the job never gets completed, it is permitted to ask because the purpose of it was constructive. One may not believe such information to be true, one may not repeat such information to others unless someone needs it, and one emphasizes that he has merely heard such a report. If there has been a long period of time since the original report was given, it is correct for the one answering to mention that it is possible that Elon has reduced his prices and improved his workmanship. We will discuss more practical applications of these rules in day 60. That's tomorrow, no, we will learn that the one being asked also has a few other conditions that must be applied before responding to the question. That's day 61.

4:04Words of wisdom. The Jewish nation was redeemed from Egypt because of four things. They never changed their names, they did not change their language, they were not involved in forbidden relations, and they never spoke, let's show them a rock. Perfect timing. Shabas, okay. Moving to Shabas in three minutes a day, we're on day 52, I think. I think so too, okay, 53, okay, we're still talking about half dollar. Using the flame of a non-Jew is the heading. Using the flame of a non-Jew, okay, although one may not use a flame that was lit on Shabas from the Havdala Kanna, one may light a new flame from it and use that. For instance, if the shul's non-Jewish worker lit a flame on Shabas, even if he did so for

5:07his own benefit, one must not use it for a dollar. Rather one must either put it out and light it again or light a new flame from it. Why would you need to use an existing flame if it sub-dollars Shabas is open? Right, but it's already lit, they're saying if you can't take the flame that was burning on Shabas and use it as Havdala, you have to light from it. You can't use that one because it was built on Shabas again. Okay, in order to give light, oh wait, there's a note here. As we said regarding spices, any candle lit from the party of a non-Jew is prohibited as there is a likelihood that it was or will be used for idle worship. Oh, so you can't use that one. You can't use a candle lit by a non-Jew for Havdala because it might have been used for idle worship. You can't use it with spices, I guess, you can't use their spices. Is this like lit that day or ever lit? That's a good, I think, ever lit, sounds like the, because I don't worship isn't just Shabat, right?

6:11So, okay. Does the candle itself make any difference? In this respect, if you were looking to have used an existing light, or listening to a light candle, now lit a candle that has an existing light and then light for Havdala. Right. What happens if it's not a candle that's a, but for instance, you know, the candles, the candles that they have, with the glass jar and the glass jar. Josh got it. Could you use that candle to light? Seems like you shouldn't be able to. Just to make any difference that is what it is. I think once you light it from the candle, it makes it seem like you're already starting a new flame. It's not, it has nothing to do with the original flame. You know? Okay.

7:13Okay. The flame... You can light your candle from any candle burning. Even if it was light fire. Very Shabat, especially this one. You can use it. Okay. The flame must be lit for the purpose of giving light and not for any other purpose. One is permitted to use coals that are still hot enough to cause a twig that touches them to ignite. However, as we have said, these coals must have been lit in order to give off light, not for cooking or warmth. For a dollar, wait a minute. How do you have coals at the end of Shabat that are still hot? Well, let's say there are. I don't know. You have coals from the day before that Shabat they make when they had food. They used to make coals and they closed it. Some coals were still... Depends on the size of the wood. Yeah, yeah. We have to let it fire off. But you can't use it to light your candle apparently, if it was used for cooking.

8:13You had to be meant for light. Similarly, one may not make a brothel on your side candle, even if it was lit after Shabat's. I mean, not make the brothel for a dollar on a your side candle, even if it was lit after Shabat's. Because such a flame is for the honor of the dead, not for light. So the whole point is to get a candle for light, not for some other reason. Okay. So if you see your side candle, this is... Light your up dollar candle from it though, I bet. You know? Why not? No, you can't. You just can't make the broth on the Yorte candle and say this is my light. You know? Note, the rules for the flame of Motei Yom Kippur differ from those of Motei Shabat's. But they don't go into detail here. Yeah, in Yom Kippur, you can light in the yard. If it's already... Yeah, but Yom Kippur, you do... You can do a shadow light. Mm. Okay. If it's real dead and prerid, right?

9:14It's a gas you'd be able to put your Shabat. No, it's only for living. Okay. But again, it's not for light. It's for the honor of the dead or living. Right. I don't... For light, for light. Okay. A blind person may not make the brothel on a flame as he is not able to benefit from it. However, he does recite the rest of the dollar. One can only make the brachat on the flame if he is able to see the flame and benefit from it. Therefore, a candle in a closed metal cylinder with holes will not work. It's even preferable not to use a candle in a closed glass cylinder.