Halachic Highlights

Question: Is it permissible to share lashon ha’ra with your wife?

Short Answer: This is a big dispute, with the Chofetz Chaim seemingly forbidding it unless necessary for the speaker’s mental health, and other poskim ruling leniently based on the concept of “ishto k’gufo” (that a husband and wife are like one person).

Question: Do you violate lashon ha’ra if you speak negatively about a non-Jew?

Short Answer: While the exact nature of any potential prohibition is disputed by the poskim, many agree that one should not speak negatively about a non-Jew.

Question: Do you violate lashon ha’ra if you speak negatively about yourself?

Short Answer: There is a dispute between the poskim whether one violates lashon ha’ra (or another prohibition) when speaking negatively about oneself.

Question: Do you violate lashon ha’ra by speaking negatively about a group of Jews (i.e., Sefardim, Ashkenazim, chareidim, Zionists) without mentioning a specific individual?

Short Answer: Yes, the prohibition of Lashon HaRa is even worse when spoken about a group of people.

Question: Do you violate lashon ha’ra if you speak negatively about someone who is deceased?

Short Answer: Many poskim hold that it is forbidden to speak negatively about the deceased, but the exact source and nature of this prohibition is debated by the poskim.

Question: What is the nature of the prohibition not to speak lashon ha’ra?

 Short Answer: The numerous prohibitions not to speak lashon ha’ra are to prevent you from hurting your friend and also to teach you to use your mouth properly.