• SC

  Shmuli c. -12 years ago

  Flatterers....
  BS"D
  
  
  
  Thank you Rabbi for a wonderful analysis and a very relevant poignant perspective.
  
  
  
  Wanted to share a thorough review of Rabeinu Yonah's understanding of flatterers and other similiar groups.
  
  
  
  The Gemara teaches that four groups of people will not merit to greet the Shechinah in the World to Come: Letzim (scoffers), Chanifim (flatterers), Shakranim (liars), and Mesaprei Lashon ha'Ra (slanderers). RABEINU YONAH (Sha'arei Teshuvah 3:172-231) discusses in detail the various aspects of these four groups, and he lists the different categories within each group. His words shed much light on the definitions of these groups. We will summarize here the different categories of each group, which Rabeinu Yonah lists in order of decreasing severity.
  

  
  1. LETZANIM (five categories):
  
  (a) A person who spreads false rumors about others in order to degrade them. (This constitutes Lashon ha'Ra as well.)

  
  

  
  (b) One who degrades others because of what they lack.

  
  

  
  (c) One who constantly scoffs at specific items or actions (because he thinks he is smarter than everyone else and knows better what course of action to take).

  
  

  
  (d) One who wastes time with non-productive talk and activities (Bitul Torah).

  
  

  
  (e) A joker who tries to attract attention by making jokes. (This manifestation of Letzanus often occurs as a result of inebriation.)

  
  

  
  2. CHANIFIM (nine categories):
  
  (a) One who sees his friend sin and encourages him, and tells his friend that that he did nothing wrong.

  
  

  
  (b) One who sees his friend sin and compliments him for his good qualities and ignores his evil deeds (see previous Insight).

  
  

  
  (c) One who sees his friend sin and compliments him in private, encouraging his friend to continue to sin but not encouraging others to follow his ways.

  
  

  
  (d) One who sees another person sin and becomes friendly with him and joins his company of friends.

  
  

  
  (e) One who praises his friends or relatives for good deeds that they did not actually perform, in order to enhance his relationship with them.

  
  

  
  (f) One who sees someone sin and does not rebuke him when his rebuke would be effective.

  
  

  
  (g) One who sees someone sin and does not rebuke him when he is in doubt whether or not his rebuke would be effective to stop the sinner from sinning.

  
  

  
  (h) One is present when a person sins, and although he knows for certain that the sinner will not accept his rebuke, he does not even protest the action. Although he knows that his protest will not have an effect on the sinner, he must show others his disapproval of the act.

  
  

  
  (i) One honors a sinner who happens to be wealthy or powerful, and honors him as he honors other wealthy or powerful people who are not sinners. (Chanufah in this case is permitted when there is a risk that the wealthy or powerful sinner will cause him to suffer damage if he does not give the Rasha the honor he thinks he deserves.)

  
  

  
  3. SHAKRANIM (9 categories):
  
  (a) One who lies in order to steal from or abuse others, thereby transgressing the prohibitions of "Lo Sigzol" and "Lo Soneh."

  
  

  
  (b) One who lies in order to present himself as someone's friend so that at some point in the future he will be able to steal from him or swindle him.

  
  

  
  (c) One who lies in order to receive some future benefit that he would not have received otherwise.

  
  

  
  (d) One who lies (even though he causes no harm) simply because he is accustomed to lying, or because he does not clarify the facts before he repeats them. (This is permitted "Mipnei ha'Shalom," for the sake of peace; see Talmud Yevamos 65b.)

  
  

  
  (e) One who acts towards others differently than the way he feels inside, even though he does not openly lie.

  
  

  
  (f) One who promises to give something to (or do something for) his friend and does not fulfill his promise. If he offers his friend something small or easy, even if he does not make a promise to give it he still must keep his word.

  
  

  
  (g) One who tells others about the way he helped someone else, when he really did not help (Geneivas Da'as).

  
  

  
  (h) One who praises himself, or accepts praise, for good traits that he does not possess.

  
  

  
  (i) A person who occasionally lies regarding issues that in no way affect others, but merely because he derives benefit (such as attention) from his lies.

  
  

  
  4. MESAPREI LASHON HA'RA (6 categories):
  
  (a) A person who slanders someone else with a false claim.
  
  
  
  (b) One who slanders others by telling the truth about what the other person's parents did or what the other person himself did before he repented, in order to cause others to lose esteem for him.

  
  

  
  (c) One who informs his friend about the slander that someone else said about him (Rechilus).

  
  

  
  (d) One who does something that causes others to suspect him of speaking Lashon ha'Ra. For example, he relates his friend's good deeds in the presence of his friend's enemy (Avak Lashon ha'Ra).

  
  

  
  (e) One who speaks "Nivul Peh" -- immoral speech and expletives.

  
  

  
  (f) One who constantly complains about others and judges them unfavorably (Nirgan).

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• KT

  Kayo, Tokyo -13 years ago

  Ira Shamaim
  Baruch HaShem
  
  As it is said, Aaron brought the people closer to Torah, not Torah to the people. From your shiur, I can see why Today's so called
  "Egalitarian enlightenment movement" failed and had lead to assimilation. You remind me the True source of my life and Ira Shamaim.

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• T

  TK -14 years ago

  Sandy Path to Inspiration
  Beautiful essay. Uplifts the lowly, and allows one to see the 'dignity' in ones struggles and dark moments.

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• MR

  maya rondel -14 years ago

  sandy path to inspiration
  Your essays always inlight the every chapter of Torah and realy helpful to comprehens the essence of Judaism!
  

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• S

  sa -14 years ago

  very inspiring
  thank you.

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Rabbi YY Jacobson

• December 1, 2013
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• 28 Kislev 5774
• |
• 2348 views

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