An anonymous Bnei Noach wrote on a maillist a while back: "''lashon hara'' is the one thing that will also keep us from having any community among B'nei Noach. And we do need community. In my mind I will elevate ''lashon hara'' to a position of evil somewhere near murder and robbery, because G-d will not help us if we refuse to speak with love, encouragement and kindness towards one another, within hearing, and beyond hearing."

Speaking gossip, slander, etc. is obviously damaging to the Bnei Noach community. But is it prohibited? And if so exactly how and in what manner is prohibited? Below are a collection of thoughts on the subject. The list is ordered according to the [[The Seven Laws|seven laws]].

==Rabbi Yirmeyahu Bindman ==

==Rabbi Yeshayahu HaKohen Hollander (Jerusalem Court for Bnei Noah)==

[[Image:BDBN.gif|right]]

'''Voluntary.''' In English there are so many terms for talking badly about another person (Gossip, slander, libel, defamation, vilification). Slander is writing or publishing in print. Libel, but the language does not differentiate between defamation by true statements and by false statements. In Jewish law we differentialte between gossip = telling people about what other people said about them [or theirs] and is called ''rechilus'', true tale-bearing [telling bad but true things about people] is called ''loshon hara'', and false tale-bearing: [telling untrue bad things about people] is called ''motzei shem ra''. For Jews this is these offences are considered a serious ~~offence~~. In many circles there are ~~publc~~ public lessons given about these offences. In general ''rechilus'', ''loshon hara'', ''motzei shem ra'', are absolutely forbidden, except in a few limited cases. Jewish law details the rules and circumstances in which one may tell about bad acts of someone, for instance: a witness must testify in court. Warning about suspicions is allowed in certain instances. The difference between telling and warning is simple: When you warn you say "Look out, on the basis of these facts, I warn you that this person may do harm! ". Telling is saying: "This person has done X". The statement "This person intends to do the bad X" is ascribing evil to someone, and is Halachically very risky. In most cases it is prohibited. The warning must be something like: "I have personal knowledge [or: see ~~fro~~ for yourself] that this person is saying [or doing] what people say [or do] when they have bad intentions, as so-and-so have said [or done] in previous situations and then followed the saying with bad actions."

The prohibition is based on Leviticus 19:16, in the context of regulations about relations between people [verses16-18]. In this chapter, the phrase "the congregation of the children of Israel" is used several times. In Exodus 16 and 17 this phrase is used when people were complaining. In Exodus 35 in connection with the bringing of contributions for the Tabernacle; in Leviticus 16 – with respect to atonement; in Numbers 1 with regard to the physical arrangement of the Israelite camp in the wilderness; in chapter 8 – the separation of the Levite tribe from the rest of the children of Israel; in chapters 13 and 14 in connection with the sin of the spies, and those who followed them; in chapter 15 with respect to atonement [according to halachic tradition – for Idolatry]. From the context: verse 3 "and keep my Sabbaths" it seems clear that this is not meant to apply to non-Jews. So it does not appear to be directed to non-Jews. This prohibiton is NOT in the list of sixty-six commandments of Bnei Noah compiled by the contemporary Rabbi A. Lichtenstein.

The fact that verses 16, 17 and 18 uses the words "among thy people", "thy ~~neighbour~~neighbor", "thy brother", "children of thy people" it is clear that Noahides are not subject to these ~~commandements~~commandments.

However, It we see that the Torah views the various types of ill-talk about members of one's community as having a bad result to the community. Thus it seems it would be wise that Noahide communities adapt them – for the benefit of the community.

==References==

[[Category:Legal Rulings]]

[[Category:Jerusalem Court for Bnei Noah]]

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