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The Brisker Rav’s father-in-law R. Dovid Mintz, contributed a substantial sum to the dowry of the young couple. Along with this gift, The Brisker Rav received a number of valuable sefarim, including an original copy of the Shulchan Aruch, published in the lifetime of the author, and other ancient manuscripts of great monetary value. Apart from this, R. Meshulam Auerbach signed over ownership of an apartment building in Warsaw to The Brisker Rav so that he would be able to live off the income generated by renting the apartments. But all this wealth was lost: The tenants of the apartment building in Warsaw were pious Jews who were very poor. These people did not have the money to pay city taxes, and over the years their debt to the city had accumulated to a very large sum. Finally, the government submitted a request to the owner of the building, The Brisker Rav, to reveal the names of his tenants, but he would not do so, flatly refusing to turn over his fellow Jews to the government. As a result, possession of the building was taken in lieu of the back taxes. The dowry money, too, was lost in a bitter episode, and so all the wealth was gone. During the period when he lost the apartment building, The Brisker Rav spent much time studying “Sha’ar Habitachon” in the sefer Chovos HaLevavos. He remarked then, “The world thinks that a wealthy man is someone with a block of apartments in Warsaw but the truth is that a rich man is someone who has Sha’ar Habitachon in Chovos HaLevavos!” The Brisker Rav, By R’ Shimon Yosef Meller, Published By Feldheim page 130 (lashon hara, bitachon)
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One of the students at Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood had the special privilege of serving the Rosh Yeshiuah his daily cup of coffee during the days he spent in Lakewood, generally twice per week. One day, after placing the coffee on his rebbe’s desk, the student passed the office and noticed that the cup was untouched. He slipped in, removed the cold cup of coffee and returned with a piping hot replacement, assuming that the Rosh Yeshiuah, Harav Aaron Kotler, had simply forgotten his coffee because he was so engrossed in his studies. Several minutes later, he passed by the office, noticing that again the coffee remained untouched. At this point, the student realized that it was not merely a matter of concentration; there must have been a distinct reason. With proper apologies he approached his rebbe for an explanation. “I’ll share my thoughts with you,” Rav Aaron remarked. “A certain family with whom I’m friendly is taking an interest in a former student of the yeshivah regarding a marriage prospect. lt is very likely that they will call me to inquire about him. “Praising him with attributes he does not possess is a Torah prohibition on two counts, miduar sheker Lirchak — ‘distance yourself from words of falsehood’ — as well as lo saamod al dam reiacho— ‘do not be oblivious to the spilling of another person’s blood,’ for if unknown negative traits ultimately lead to discord or divorce, it is directly attributable to the fact that honest information was withheld. On the other hand, l don’t feel comfortable divulging my true feelings, since there is always the possibility that, once married, the couple will be happy with one another. My remarks might very well cause the needless disintegration of a shidduch. “it is indeed an awesome responsibility that l’m facing. For this reason l have designated this day as a day of fasting and prayer to Hashem that He grant me a kindness and spare me from this call.” This anecdote was related to the late Rosh Yeshiuah of Manchester, Harav Yehuda Zev Segal, while he was visiting the United States. He was so inspired by Rav Aaron’s meticulousness in guarding each word he uttered, that he remarked: “Had l come to America just to hear this beautiful story, it would have sufficed.” (Noble Lives Noble Deeds 1) (lashon hara)
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Rav Yosef Tendler would teach the following story. In a certain city, allegations were made that the shochet did not check an animal’s lungs properly. A dispute resulted, with lashon hara being said by both sides. Rabbi Chaim Volozhin pointed out that checking the lungs is a rabbinical obligation, whereas the prohibitions of lashon hara and dispute are Biblical. Those who wanted the ruling of the rabbis to be kept properly were lax about the Biblical prohibition. I Am Your Servant, By Rabbi Akiva Tendler, Published By Artscroll Mesorah page 218 (lashon hara, terifa)
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Even though the Steipler’s hearing was impaired, for several reasons he refused to use a hearing aid. “Why is it important to hear well?” he would ask. “No one will go to the trouble of shouting lashon hara into my ears. The things that are necessary I somehow manage to hear. So what do I need it for?” The Steipler, By Rabbi Moshe Sofer, Published by CIS page 141 (lashon hara)
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While hearing words of Lashon hara (derogatory speech) may afford pleasure), one must, nevertheless, attempt with all one’s might to refrain from listening to it and from lending it credence. This can be compared, said the Chofetz Chaim, to a charlatan who donned elegant clothing and went out into the city square. There was a newcomer in the city that day; he was visiting the city for the first time and did not know anyone. He wandered around, gazing wondrously at the streets crowded with people and at the stores stocked with plenty. Suddenly, the charlatan approached him. “Shalom, to you, my good Jew,” said the charlatan. ”I can see that you are a visitor here. Perhaps you are in need of something? This is your lucky day, for it just so happens that I have some time on my hands and am willing to show you around the city.” The visitor was overjoyed and grateful for the man’s kindness. The charlatan led the visitor through the city streets, giving him an extensive tour. When they had finished, he told the visitor, “Since you are my guest for the day, I would like to invite you to a lavish feast, fitting for such an esteemed guest as yourself. It will be my treat.” They entered an elegant restaurant and ordered every imaginable delicacy, both food and drink. “Eat, my friend, eat,” said the charlatan. “Perhaps you would care for some fruit compote and cookies as well?” As their meal came to a close, the charlatan slipped out of the restaurant and ran away. The guest’s claims and protests were of no use — he was forced to cover the enormous expense of the meal that both he and his “friend” the charlatan had incurred. He suddenly arrived at the stark realization that this imposter was not a friend at all, but a bitter enemy. So is the case, said the Chofetz Chaim, when it comes to lashon hara. A man happens to meet his friend one day, and this friend proceeds to speak lashon hara. While it may be pleasurable to hear the malicious speech at the time, and he may be grateful to his friend for holding him in high regard and for letting him in on these “precious” secrets, when the time arrives for him to stand in judgment before the Heavenly Tribune, he will be forced to pay for the fleeting pleasure that he derived. Only then will he discover just how costly that pleasure truly was, and how the person who related the lashon hara to him was not his friend at all… (Lashon Hara) (Jewish Parables- A Mashal for Every Occasion)
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“Who left the garden gate open?” shouted the villager as he entered his ‘cottage “Those blasted goats have been at the vegetables again. It’s had enough that they jump over the wall every once in a while and do their damage. How many times do I have to warn you to keep the gate closed or we won’t have any garden left.” I His frightened family promised to follow this rule in the future and for at few days everything went well. But one day one of the children, in a hurry to join his friends, forgot to shut the gate. Some neighborhood hogs entered the garden and pulled out all the vegetables with their roots. When the villager returned home and saw what had happened he became furious. “That’s the last straw. We need vegetables from our garden in order to have enough food to eat, I see that I can’t rely on my family to keep the garden gate shut so I am going to wall up the gate opening so that those hogs will never get in again to destroy my garden.” “But Father,” asked one of his children, “ how will we get in and out of the house if there is no gate?” “I am sorry,” was the reply, “but we still just have to climb over the wall each time.” “But won’t it look ridiculous climbing over a wall every time you enter or leave home?” “It’s better to look e little ridiculous,” replied the father, “than to go hungry.” A person’s lips are the gate for his tongue, Whenever there is a temptation to speak evil gossip or make fun of somebody the gate must be closed so that the hogs don’t enter.” But if a person sees that he surrenders to the temptation of misusing his power of speech then he must sometimes wall up the gate by periodical exercises in silence. He may seem ridiculous to others as he tries in get along without speaking but if this is the only way to save himself from the terrible sins of a careless tongue then it is better to look silly in this world than to be ashamed in the World to Come. (Who Wants Life) (think before speak)
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“My new palace needs drapes and upholstery and new royal garments must be made for the members of my court. Summon the most experienced weaver in the land so that I may order him to prepare me the materials.” Soon the country’s most renowned weaver was standing before the king who gave him the following instructions: “You will be supplied with a great warehouse or cotton and wool and hundreds ml weaving machines will be put at your disposal. My designers will give you instructions as to what sort of weaves I desire and you will be paid well for your services. If you do exceptional work you will be rewarded with special honors. The weaver then joined the king’s finance minister in a tour of the machines. After they had inspected all of them they stood in front of one strange new machine with wires running from its side. “I am fully familiar with all of the two hundred and forty-seven other machines,” he said to the finance minister, “but I have never operated this strange machine before. Perhaps you can explain it to me.” “This machine is powered by electricity,” the minister explained. “It can weave in minutes what the other machines do in a day. But you must be extremely careful. For it the slightest thing goes wrong with at wire or a switch this machine can ruin more material in minutes that all the others can produce in a day.” Every one of man’s 248 parts is geared towards one of 248 positive Mitzvos which he is commanded to observe. But his mouth is the “electric” part of his body for it provides him with the quickest opportunity for success or failure. In minutes he can say hundreds of words of Torah which will bring him tremendous spiritual profits. But if he misuses this gift he can violate hundreds of prohibitions against gossip, lies and lashon Hara in the same short span of time. (Who Wants Life) (think before speak)
