''Shmiras Halashon'' (guarding the tongue) is a practice in

Judaism Judaism () is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic, Monotheism, monotheistic, ethnic religion that comprises the collective spiritual, cultural, and legal traditions of the Jews, Jewish people. Religious Jews regard Judaism as their means of o ...

that is said to promote the quality of life and help combat and reduce ''Lashon Hara'' (evil tongue). It is a part of Jewish ethics known as ''mussar''.

King David David (; , "beloved one") was a king of ancient Israel and Judah and the third king of the United Monarchy, according to the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament. The Tel Dan stele, an Aramaic-inscribed stone erected by a king of Aram-Damas ...

once said, "He who loves life and would like to see good days, let him guard his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit."

King Solomon King is a royal title given to a male monarch. A king is an absolute monarch if he holds unrestricted governmental power or exercises full sovereignty over a nation. Conversely, he is a constitutional monarch if his power is restrained by f ...

said, "Whoever guards his mouth and tongue guards himself from trouble." The concepts and practice of ''Shmiras Halashon'' are found all through ancient Jewish writings, the modern practice was birthed and popularised by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan ( Chofetz Chaim).

History

* The first

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according to

Torah The Torah ( , "Instruction", "Teaching" or "Law") is the compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, namely the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The Torah is also known as the Pentateuch () ...

is the serpent speaking evil about God and not practicing ''Shmiras Halashon,'' which led

Eve Eve is a figure in the Book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible. According to the origin story, "Creation myths are symbolic stories describing how the universe and its inhabitants came to be. Creation myths develop through oral traditions and there ...

to be deceived, bringing death. * Joseph spoke negatively to his father, Jacob, about his brothers, causing them to hate him. This led them to sell him into slavery, and ultimately caused the Egyptian exile. * The difficult slavery in Egypt is attributed to talebearers amongst the people and not guarding their tongues. * The slander of Doeg, King Saul’s chief shepherd and the head of the

Sanhedrin The Sanhedrin (Hebrew and Middle Aramaic , a loanword from , 'assembly,' 'sitting together,' hence ' assembly' or 'council') was a Jewish legislative and judicial assembly of either 23 or 70 elders, existing at both a local and central level i ...

, caused the massacre of nearly an entire city. * The armies of

King Saul Saul (; , ; , ; ) was a monarch of ancient Israel and Judah and, according to the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament, the first king of the United Monarchy, a polity of uncertain historicity. His reign, traditionally placed in the late elevent ...

lost their battles with the

Philistines Philistines (; LXX: ; ) were ancient people who lived on the south coast of Canaan during the Iron Age in a confederation of city-states generally referred to as Philistia. There is compelling evidence to suggest that the Philistines origi ...

as a result of the slander that people spoke against (then future)

. * The armies of the notorious king

Ahab Ahab (; ; ; ; ) was a king of the Kingdom of Israel (Samaria), the son and successor of King Omri, and the husband of Jezebel of Sidon, according to the Hebrew Bible. He is depicted in the Bible as a Baal worshipper and is criticized for causi ...

were successful in their battles, despite the fact that they were idolatrous, because they guarded their tongue. * The destruction of the

Second Temple The Second Temple () was the Temple in Jerusalem that replaced Solomon's Temple, which was destroyed during the Siege of Jerusalem (587 BC), Babylonian siege of Jerusalem in 587 BCE. It was constructed around 516 BCE and later enhanced by Herod ...

is attributed to lack of obeisance to ''Shmiras Halashon''. The redemption and peace of the people is connected to being careful about ''Shmiras Halashon''.

Torah Commandments

''Shmiras Halashon'' is divided into 31 Torah commandments which need to be observed. * 17 negative commandments * 14 positive commandments * 4

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Keeping these commandments increases happiness and quality of life while carelessness causes destruction.

Negative commandments

* You shall not go as a slanderer among your people; nor shall you stand against the blood of your neighbor; I am the Lord. (

Vayikra The Book of Leviticus (, from , ; , , 'And He called'; ) is the third book of the Torah (the Pentateuch) and of the Old Testament, also known as the Third Book of Moses. Many hypotheses presented by scholars as to its origins agree that it de ...

19:16) * You shall not raise a false report ( Shemot 23:1) * Take heed concerning the plague of leprosy. Leprosy came as a punishment for Lashon Hara. ( Devarim 24:8) * You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your G-d; I am the Lord. This is when you cause another one to sin as when you engage in evil talk. (Vayikra 19:14)

Positive commandments

* Remember what the Lord your G-d did to Miriam by the way, after you came out of Egypt”. We are commanded to remember that Hashem punished Miriam for speaking against Moshe. (Devarim 24:9) * And you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord”. When you love someone you don't talk evil about anyone. (Vayikra 19:18) * You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment...but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. This verse exhorts us to give the benefit of the doubt when judging our fellowmen. (Vayikra 19:15) * And if your brother has become poor, and his means fail with you; then you shall relieve him; though he may be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with you. If you say something and as a consequence someone is hurt financially you transgress this command. (Vayikra 25:35)

Curses

* Cursed be the one who hits his friend in secret. Anyone who does not watch his mouth does just this, he hits his friend behind his back, in secret. (Devarim 27:24) * Cursed be the one who confounds the blind on the road. By making others he innocent listenerstransgress the commandments of Shmiras Halashon you make them sin. (Devarim 27:18) * Cursed be the one who will not establish the words of this Torah in order to do them. If a person habitually does not bother about God's commandments, he is the habit of repeating the transgression of constantly. (Devarim 27:26) * Cursed be the one who hits his father or his mother. This forbids the speaking ill about one's father or mother. (Devarim 27:16)

Modern application

The concept of guarding one's tongue works in a family or corporate setting and increases peace and happiness.

References

{{Reflist Judaism terminology Jewish law Hebrew words and phrases in Jewish law