No community start suggestion yet.
How can lashon hara violate "lo sisa mashma shav" when it involves telling the truth, not falsehood? The shiur develops a yesod that lashon hara lies not in the facts but in the mashmaos - implying "this is who the person is" rather than merely what they did. This insight reframes lashon hara as fundamentally a sin of kavana, making it both more dangerous and more spiritually demanding.
This shiur examines a fundamental question about the nature of lashon hara through the Gemara (גמרא) in Sanhedrin 93b, which discusses how Doeg spoke lashon hara about Dovid HaMelech by praising him to King Saul. Rabbi Zweig begins with a profound kashe: if the prohibition of lashon hara is derived from "lo sisa mashma shav" (don't bear false witness), which refers to falsehood, how can lashon hara - which by definition involves telling the truth - violate this commandment? The Gemara describes how Doeg listed Dovid's genuine qualities: his wisdom in asking questions, ability to answer, understanding of Torah (תורה) discussions, knowledge of halacha (הלכה), and that "Hashem (ה׳) is with him." Saul responded that his son Yonatan possessed all these same qualities except for "Hashem is with him." Upon hearing this, Saul became jealous and sought to kill Dovid. Rashi (רש"י) explains that this constituted lashon hara because Doeg's intention was to make Saul jealous of Dovid.
Looking for the full summary?
Full access is available to members of the TUF Alumni Association or the Yam Hagadol Foundation.
Already a member? Let the admin know!
Dedicate a Shiur in Aggadita
L'ilui nishmas a loved one. In honor of a simcha or yahrzeit. As a zechus for a refuah sheleimah. Your dedication helps carry Rabbi Zweig's Torah to learners around the world.
How long must Hashem tolerate the Jewish people's rebellious behavior? A Midrash compares this to the halachic question of carrying a child holding muktze on Shabbos. The analysis reveals that rejecting Eretz Yisrael represents a deeper spiritual corruption than individual acts of avoda zara.
Sanhedrin 93b
Looking for the full transcript?
Full access is available to members of the TUF Alumni Association or the Yam Hagadol Foundation.
Already a member? Let the admin know!
What did Dovid mean when he reduced the 613 mitzvos to twelve principles? The Gemara reveals that mitzvos have two dimensions: fulfilling the obligation and achieving personal completion (hashlomah). Dovid identified twelve core principles that encapsulate the essential character development aspect of all mitzvos.
