The Terror in New Square

the world's best mom ↓

Thu, Jun 02 2011, 9:52 pm

Terror in New Square

I click the play button
And I stare in surprise
As I watch horror unfold
Right before my eyes.

A big group of men
Stand together and shout,
“Shygetz Arois!
You [gentile]! You get out!”

And who are they yelling at
On this fine day?
Their neighbor and brother;
A Jew just like they.

This Jew visits a nursing home
And helps out with a Minyan.
What is the problem here?
Why make it an Inyan?

So he doesn’t daven
In the same Shule as you.
Does that mean he’s not fulfilling
His Tafkid as a Jew?

If that’s not bad enough,
The worst is yet to come.
I see the actions of a man
Who considers himself Frum.

What kind of person
Would set a house aflame,
Attempting five murders;
Now who is to blame?

There is anger deep inside me;
There is fury in my heart,
When I see my fellow brothers
Tear our nation apart.

This Sinas Chinam is the reason
We are in this Galus now.
Mashiach won’t come until we learn
To love each other somehow.

We have to stop this judging
Every move our neighbors make.
Just be friends and love each other.
This is a step we all must take.

We all have to join together;
One big nation with one heart.
So that we can greet Mashiach
And no one will stand apart.

↑ amother ↓

Sun, Jun 05 2011, 12:37 pm

the world's best mom wrote:

amother wrote:

another lashon hara thread in the making Twisted Evil

Can you explain where you see Lashon Hara here?

And before you answer, you may want to check Hilchos Lashon Harah on Api T'lasa. This incident was in the news and is therefore considered public knowledge.

In fact, on the contrary, Lashon Hara stems from Sinas Chinam. I have written a poem about Ahavas Chinam. Sinas Chinam means hating a fellow Jew for no good reason. Arson and attempted murder are pretty good reasons in my book for hating another Jew. The cause of his crimes was Sinas Chinam.

Amother is right.

Here's an easy barometer to see whether it's LH or not.
Ask yourself the following questions: 1) Would the Chafetz Chaim have written such a poem/article? answer: never, ever, ever. 2) Would the Chafetz Chaim approve of such a poem/article? answer: absolutely not 3) Would you have written this about your brother/sister? answer: definitely not.

"The Chafetz Chaim begins his sefer by telling us, "It does not matter if it is true." Hashem wants us to be as protective of every Jew's reputation as if he or she were our own brother or sister. Just as one would be loathe to spread negative information about one's sister or brother, regardless of the fact that the information is true, so too, should we be loathe to spread negative information about any Jew.

The Chafetz Chaim cites the famous Talmudic case of "api tlata" in the presence of three, where derogatory information was spoken in the presence of three or more people. The license of api tlata, he says, exists in very specific cases. A statement which would otherwise be forbidden because it might be LH may be permitted if stated before three people. This is because a statement heard by three people will, in all likelihood, find its way to the ears of the subject. This factor allows us to assume that the statement, which has both a positive and a negative interpretation, was actually meant in a positive way, and therefore is not LH.

The Chafetz Chaim continues discussing the topic of "api tlata" and ends: "Given all of these limitations, it is clear that the license of api tlata is rarely applicable. In addition, it is subject to dispute: many poskim disagree with the Rambam's interpretation. Therefore, the Chafetz Chaim concludes that we should avoid making use of this license altogether.

The Chafetz Chaim analyzes the ramifications of speaking LH before a group. If a person speaks LH before ten people, for example, he has done much more than harm his subject one time. He has damaged his reputation ten times! The larger the audience, the more sins accrued. Certainly it is forbidden to speak against an entire community of Jews."

The fact that it was reported by some news media does not give you the license to talk about it. We are all well aware of cases where people were wrongly accused of some offense by the media or by the public purposely or erroneously for personally motives or political reasons which was accepted blindly. I'm not discussing whether this case is true. All I'm doing is reiterating the words of the Chafetz Chaim that it does not matter if it is true. You are not part of the Beit Din to know who actually was behind it and if the cause was sinat chinam. With a heart infused with ahavat yisrael, instead of fanning the flames of sinat chinam and LH, a poem on ahavat chinam would be more appreciated and welcome now.

Sherri

Sun, Jun 05 2011, 12:51 pm

amother wrote:

the world's best mom wrote:

amother wrote:

another lashon hara thread in the making Twisted Evil

Thank you, I learned a lot.

↑ the world's best mom ↓

Sun, Jun 05 2011, 1:32 pm

If that's the case, then all threads about the incidents in New Square should be removed as they are apparantly all L"H.

And IY"H, I will try to write another poem about Ahavas Yisroel with no mention of specific exampled of Sinas Chinam.

Although honestly, I don't totally believe that the Chafetz Chaim would disprove of my poem. The intentions were to inspire people to have Ahavas Yisroel, which the Chafetz Chaim knew we all need. It used a famous bad example of a murderer who attempted murder because of Sinas Chinam. I'm still not sure if that counts as Lashon Harah, for 2 reasons:

1-There are some cases where Api T'lasa does apply, even according to the Chofetz Chaim, and

2- Lashon Harah may be spoken about an Apikores. Anyone who believes that committing murder is okay if the victim goes against his Rebbe doesn't seem to believe in Hashem. He seems to believe in his Rebbe as G-d, and the Torah as not important.

Keep on the look out for a poem on Ahavas Yisroel that doesn't have anything that may be L"H in it. I hope to write it this afternoon.

↑ amother ↓

Sun, Jun 05 2011, 5:25 pm

the world's best mom wrote:

If that's the case, then all threads about the incidents in New Square should be removed as they are apparantly all L"H.

correct, as a matter of fact several posters mention LH in those threads

Quote:

And IY"H, I will try to write another poem about Ahavas Yisroel with no mention of specific exampled of Sinas Chinam.

Would love to read it 'cuz you've got talent.

Quote:

Although honestly, I don't totally believe that the Chafetz Chaim would disprove of my poem.

If you'll learn a lesson in CC daily, you'll understand the CC better.

Quote:

The intentions were to inspire people to have Ahavas Yisroel, which the Chafetz Chaim knew we all need. It used a famous bad example of a murderer who attempted murder because of Sinas Chinam. I'm still not sure if that counts as Lashon Harah, for 2 reasons:

According to the CC we are only permitted to listen to LH (without accepting it as fact) if there is something constructive to be gained.

Quote:

1-There are some cases where Api T'lasa does apply, even according to the Chofetz Chaim, and

"This factor allows us to assume that the statement, which has both a positive and a negative interpretation, was actually meant in a positive way, and therefore is not LH. "

Quote:

2- Lashon Harah may be spoken about an Apikores. Anyone who believes that committing murder is okay if the victim goes against his Rebbe doesn't seem to believe in Hashem. He seems to believe in his Rebbe as G-d, and the Torah as not important.

The CC defines apikoros as someone who "denies" the Torah or the Oral Torah. Committing murder, eating treif, stealing or committing any other sin would not be deemed an apikoros.

Quote:

Keep on the look out for a poem on Ahavas Yisroel that doesn't have anything that may be L"H in it. I hope to write it this afternoon.

Please post the link here.