loshon hora
When Eric came home last night, he presented me with two books, a commentary on Pirkei Avos and Chofetz Chaim's handbook on loshon hora, forbidden speech. The book is divided into daily portions, but today I indulged in two at once:
The Midrash (Devarim Rabbah 6,14) states, "Hashem says, In this world, because there is loshon hora among you, I withdrew My Presence from among you." Like a letter directly from Hashem -- clear and unambiguous. The message of this statement is incredible. The Beis HaMikdash [Holy Temple] has not been rebuilt, the Shechinah (Divine Presence) is not in our midst, because of the forbidden speech which we utter.
The Midrash (Devarim Rabbah 6,14) states, "Hashem says, In this world, because there is loshon hora among you, I withdrew My Presence from among you." Like a letter directly from Hashem -- clear and unambiguous. The message of this statement is incredible. The Beis HaMikdash [Holy Temple] has not been rebuilt, the Shechinah (Divine Presence) is not in our midst, because of the forbidden speech which we utter.