https://hakirah.org/Vol%2012%20Buchman.pdf
Rav Yisrael Salanter was asked by the Chofetz Chaim for an approbation (haskamah) to his Sefer Chofetz Chaim but Rav Salanter did not give it.23 He explained the reason to him. He said, you write that if one speaks lashon hara about another, he must relate what he had done and ask the person for forgiveness (mechilah).24 Thus, if one has talked badly about his dearest and most beloved friend and in a moment of weakness he relates something negative about him to another, he must do teshuvah by revealing the transgression to the friend. The Chofetz Chaim responded that this is in fact the halachah, and indeed this is implied by the words of Rabbenu Yonah,25 and though not mentioned it would follow from Hilchos Teshuvah of Mishneh Torah as well. Rav Salanter responded that one is not permitted to fulfill a mitzvah and gain teshuvah, at the expense of another’s pain.26 To reveal his transgression to his life-long friend who felt loved like as a brother is an act of cruelty.
Very nice, rav salanter was an empath.
ReplyDeleteDid the CC hold rav salanter to be as great as himself?
Rav salanter is using a teleological halachic process.
ReplyDeleteEthical considerations define what mitzvos you can do.
It says in this article that laws of LH are not in the SA, ad hence the CC wrote the the book Chafetz Chaim.
ReplyDeleteIf they are not in the Shulchan aruch, how can they suddenly become halacha? It is not something related to E'Y or the Beit Hamikdash.
The problem is that the CC was a tremendous pietist. If someone spoke LH about him and then fulfilled the halakha by telling him about it, he likely would have happily granted a mechilah to ensure that his friend got the mitzvah of teshuva and that he got the mitzvah of mechilah.
ReplyDeleteBut most people aren't on the CC's level and the basic daily halakhic practice is built for us, not pietists.