Shmiras halashon

Shmiras Halashon (guarding the tongue) is a practice in Judaism 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 commonly known as mussar. King David 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 goes on to say, "Whoever guards his mouth and tongue guards himself from trouble."

Though the concepts and practice of Shmiras Halashon is found all through ancient Jewish writings, the modern practice was birthed and popularised by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan who is well known as Chofetz Chaim.

History and folklore

• The first sin according to Torah is the serpent speaking evil about God and not practicing Shmiras Halashon which led to Eve being deceived bringing death.
• Joseph spoke negatively to his father, Jacob, about his brothers, causing them to hate him. This led to their selling him, and ultimately caused the Egyptian exile.
• The difficult slavery in Egypt is attributed to talebearers amongst the people and not guarding their tongue.
• The slander of Doeg, King Saul’s chief shepherd and the head of the Sanhedrin, caused the massacre of nearly an entire city.
• The armies of King Saul lost their battles with the Philistines as a result of the slander that people spoke against (then future) King David.
• The armies of the notorious king Ahab were successful in their battles, despite the fact that they were idolatrous, because they guarded their tongue.
• The destruction of the Second Temple is attributed to not being careful about 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 things not to do (negative commandments)
• 14 things to do (positive commandments)
• 4 curses that you get yourself out of (curses)

Keeping these commandments are said to increase one's happiness and quality of life and being careless in this area is said to cause destruction.

Negative commandments

1. 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 19:16)
2. You shall not raise a false report (Shemot 23:1)
3. Take heed concerning the plague of leprosy. Leprosy came as a punishment for Lashon Hara. (Devarim 24:8)
4. 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

1. 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)
2. 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)
3. 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)
4. 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

1. 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)
2. Cursed be the one who confounds the blind on the road. By making others [The innocent listeners] transgress the commandments of Shmiras Halashon you make them sin. (Devarim 27:18)
3. 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)
4. 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 is proven to increase peace and happiness.