These additional resources that we have culled from around the web are meant to enhance the NLE Morasha Syllabus class entitled, The Stunning Power of Speech II: Lashon Hara – Destructive Speech. We are certain that these resources can help you further impact your audience! If you know of any additional resources that we should add on to this page, please let us know by contacting us here.
Articles
- Speech and Lashon Ho-Ra – From Judaism 101 The laws that are most difficult to keep, that are most commonly violated even by observant Jews, are the laws regarding improper speech.
- Ethics of Speech – From Torah.org
The Chofetz Chaim lists a staggering 31 mitzvahs that may be violated by speaking or listening to lashon hora illustrating how important it is to remember how carelessness can lead one into deep trouble. - Covenant & Conversation – From Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
Evil speech, lashon ha-ra, was considered by the sages to be one of the worst sins of all. - Lashon Hora Told Under Believable Circumstances – From Torah.org
Guidelines for speech in public and in front of others. - Gossip – From Ahavat-Israel.com
Just as the negative consequences of speech can be so vast, the positive consequences of proper speech are even greater. - Lashon Hora – From Halacha Yomit
Questions and Answers on Lashon Hora. - Lashon Hora – by Rabbi Duvi Bensassoun
When can you speak and when can you believe? - What’s so Bad About Lashon Hora Anyway? – by Jeremy Freedman
Why do we no longer have tzaraas today, what’s so bad about Lashon Harah anyway, and how does this all affect – and reflect – our relationship with Hashem? - Purifying Our Children – by Rabbi Yisrael Pesach Feinhandler
Learning a powerful lesson on the power of lashon hora from the Chofetz Chaim. - Journalism, Controversy and Responsibility: Halachic Analysis – from Journal of Halacha & Contemporary Society XLI; Spring 2001- From 5761
What are the halachic guidelines for newspaper reporting and how does this affect investigative reporting for a Jewish Newspaper?
Blogs & Links
- The Lost light – A feature film about the laws of Shmirat Halashon by TorahLive.com
- Lashon Hora-An Event the Impacted my Life – from MetroImma.com
One act of lashon hara (gossip) ruined lifelong friendships and impacted family relationships. - Lashon Hora-Its not just Gossip – from the Jewish Press
But there is another component to lashon hara, literally, “bad speech”, that is often overlooked. - Is it Lashon Hora? – from iShtetl.com
A discussion about the laws of lashon hora about unspecified subjects. - Michael Jackson: Better off Dead? – from JewIntheCity.com
Did we slowly kill him by constantly speaking badly of him? - Lashon Hora and Tzara’at – from On the Weekly Torah Portion
Tzara’at was reserved for people that, due to their job, position in society, background, etc., should have known better than to commit the sin they committed. - Lashon Hora Lies in the Heart – from Mashiach is Coming
The real source of the problem of Lashon Ha’ra lies in the heart, in our attitude toward people and toward the world. - Lashon Hora – from Yeshiva.org.il
Questions and answers from the rabbinic convention.
Children
- No lashon Hora! – Yavneh Academy Early childhood Blog
A craft idea. - Speech: One Tongue Instead of Another – from Project Shalom
A Story About Rabbi Shmuel HaNagid. - Watch What You Say – from Simcha’s Torah Stories
A children’s story about the laws of lashon hora. - Parshat Tazria – from Torah Tots
The cycle of Tzara’at explained to children. - Table Talk-Tazria – from ChallahCrumbs.com
Ideas for conversation starters about lashon hora.
Images
- Don’t Learn Form People Who Speak Lashon Hora – from Pirchei.com
A lashon hora cartoon poster. Appropriate for children.
Videos
Don’t Speak Lashon Hora – from Tzvi Gluckin
I Heard Lashon Hora, Now What? – by Rabbi Chaim Mintz
The Evil of Lashon Hora – by Rabbi Hanoch Teller
Lashon Hora – a Children’s Video
About Lashon Hora – by Rabbi David Abrahamovitz
Teaching Children the Power of the Tongue – by Rebbitzen Tzipporah Heller
The Late Show’s Paul Shaffer on the OU’s National Day of Lashon Hara Awareness
Please note: The views expressed in the articles, links, videos, etc. reflect the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the thinking of NLE Resources.