Acharei Mot Kedoshim #2
In Perek 19, Pasuk 16, it says, "לא תלך רכיל בעמיך לא תעמד על דם רעך"
“You shall not be a gossip monger (one who advocates gossip) among your people; you shall not stand by while your fellow’s blood is being shed.”
QUESTION: What is the link between these two commandments?
ANSWER: Chizkuni says, To speak evil against another Jew — even if it is true — is a very serious sin. However, one who stands by when his friend is being harmed, commits a greater sin. How do we know this? Because if a person knew an aggressor was planning on harming a specific person, one is not only permitted but obligated to warn the intended victim. Doing nothing is a violation of the mitzvah, “You shall not stand by while your fellow’s blood is being shed.” Therefore, they are put next to each other, in order to stress the severity of the commandment. We know that one who gossips gets tzaraat, and one who gets tzaraat is compared to one who's dead. Therefore, if the second commandment of " ...לא תעמד" is intuitively worse than "...לא תלך רכיל" kal vichomer, should we try to avoid committing this sin. Because following Chizkuni's logic means that a person who stands by his friend being harmed, is worse than someone who is dead or compared to dead.
What are more connections between the two commandments? Why does the first commandment say " בעמיך"? shouldn't we refrain from speaking gossip about all people? What are more interpretations of these commandments? Why are these commandments significant?
According to the Tur HaAroch, the entire pasuk is one prohibition and the second part is an explanation of the first part. It would mean, don't believe an accusation so that you will not stand by when that person's blood is spilled. Someone who believes an accusation will be angry and take action against the accused. That is why chazal says lashon hara kills three people.
ReplyDelete-Hadas Krasner