Kedoshim: Defining Rechilus (Gossip)
The prohibitions against lashon ha'ra and motzi shem ra are relatively easy to define, but the definition of rechilus has eluded me. This year I think I finally have a solid approach.
This week's Torah content has been sponsored by my dad in loving memory of our friend, Alan Woog (a"h), who took his final breath on April 18th, just a little shy of his 99th birthday. It has been a privilege to learn with him and from him over the course of these past ten years, and although we will all miss him, we are grateful that he is no longer in pain.
Click here for a printer-friendly 1-page version of this article, and click here for the podcast version.
Kedoshim: Defining Rechilus (Gossipmongering)
“Do not go as a gossipmonger among your people” (Vayikra 19:16) includes three prohibitions of increasing severity: rechilus (gossipmongering), lashon ha’ra (evil speech), and motzi shem ra (slander). The Rambam writes:
One who is merageil (lit. “engages in espionage”) on his fellow transgresses a negative commandment, as it is stated: “Do not go as a gossipmonger among your people.” And even though lashes are not administered for this prohibition, it is a major iniquity and causes many Jewish souls to be killed; therefore, it was juxtaposed [in the same verse] with: “do not stand over the blood of your fellow.” Go and learn what happened to Doeg the Edomite (I Shmuel 21-22).
What is a rachil (gossipmonger)? This is someone who loads up on statements and goes from one person to another, saying, “Such-and-such was said by so-and-so,” “I heard such-and-such about so-and-so.” Even though he speaks the truth, this person destroys the world.
There is an iniquity which is greater than this, which is included in this prohibition, and that is lashon ha’ra – namely, one who speaks of his friend’s degradation, even though he is telling the truth. But one who speaks falsehood is called “motzi shem ra al chaveiro” (one who slanders his friend). (Hilchos Deios 7:1-2)
Lashon ha’ra is easy to define: degrading speech, even if it’s true. Motzi shem ra is also straightforward: degrading speech which is false. Rechilus, however, is significantly trickier to define. If I say things like, “Reuven said he had a nice vacation” or “I heard Sarah got engaged,” do these statements constitute rechilus because they fit the template of “so-and-so said such-and-such” and “I heard such-and-such about so-and-so”? If so, it would seem that the majority of our conversations constitute rechilus! If not, then what are the parameters?
Let us take the Rambam’s advice and “learn what happened to Doeg, the Edomite.” In Shmuel I Chapter 20, Dovid learns that Shaul ha’Melech is out to kill him. In Chapter 21, Dovid flees to Nov, the city of Kohanim, seeking the help of Achimelech ha’Kohen. Attempting to conceal his flight for as long as possible, Dovid tells Achimelech that he’s on a secret mission from Shaul ha’Melech which nobody can know about, and he needs help. He asks him for bread (which he provides), a weapon (Achimelech gives him the only one on hand, which happens to be the sword of Golias ha’Plishti), and he consults the Urim v’Tumim (a fact to which the text only alludes). Then he leaves.
In Chapter 22, Shaul hears that Dovid fled and accuses his own men of being in cahoots. Doeg, who witnessed the entire exchange between Dovid and Achimelech, testifies: “I saw the son of Yishai coming to Nov to Achimelech the son of Achituv. And he inquired of Hashem [through the Urim v’Tumim], and he gave him provisions, and he gave him the sword of Golias ha’Plishti” (I Shmuel 22:9). Shaul summons Achimelech and, on the sole basis of Doeg’s report, accuses him of high treason. Achimelech defends himself by saying (truthfully) that he had no knowledge of Dovid’s plot. But Shaul doesn’t accept his explanation. Achimelech and eighty-five of his fellow “conspiring” Kohanim, along with their families, are sentenced to death, and are executed by Doeg, himself.
The Malbim (ibid.) explains how each component of Doeg’s statement was factually true – yet, by presenting these facts in a specific order, by choosing specific words, and by omitting a crucial detail (i.e. that Achimelech thought he was doing the king’s bidding), Doeg crafted a report which played right into the damaging narrative that Shaul was sure to impose. Based on the story, we may define rechilus as: selectively reporting on other people in a manner prone to causing harm. It doesn’t matter whether the report is maliciously calculated to inflict maximum damage, as in the case of Doeg, or whether one engages in casual, unconstrained, indiscriminate conversations about the personal lives of others in a manner that lends itself to damaging narratives. More often than we’d like to admit, we are aware on some level of what we are doing when we speak rechilus. We monger our gossip. We market and peddle the bits of personal information we know in order to get the most bang for our buck – or at least, to trade for some juicy gossip in return. The first step to stopping rechilus is to recognize what we’re doing.
If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider contributing to my Patreon at www.patreon.com/rabbischneeweiss. Alternatively, if you would like to make a direct contribution to the "Rabbi Schneeweiss Torah Content Fund," my Venmo is @Matt-Schneeweiss, and my Zelle and PayPal are mattschneeweiss at gmail.com. Even a small contribution goes a long way to covering the costs of my podcasts, and will provide me with the financial freedom to produce even more Torah content for you.
If you would like to sponsor a day's or a week's worth of content, or if you are interested in enlisting my services as a teacher or tutor, you can reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail.com. Thank you to my listeners for listening, thank you to my readers for reading, and thank you to my supporters for supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone.
-----
Substack: rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/
Patreon: patreon.com/rabbischneeweiss
YouTube: youtube.com/rabbischneeweiss
Instagram: instagram.com/rabbischneeweiss/
"The Stoic Jew" Podcast: thestoicjew.buzzsprout.com
"The Mishlei Podcast": mishlei.buzzsprout.com
"Rambam Bekius" Podcast: rambambekius.buzzsprout.com
"Machshavah Lab" Podcast: machshavahlab.buzzsprout.com
"The Tefilah Podcast": tefilah.buzzsprout.com
Blog: kolhaseridim.blogspot.com/
WhatsApp Group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GEB1EPIAarsELfHWuI2k0H
Amazon Wishlist: amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/Y72CSP86S24W?ref_=wl_sharel