Hayom Yom 12 Kislev - Distress over hearing a negative report
The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman · Rabbi Yosef Katzman
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Show Notes
בִּרְכַּת שֶׁפְּטָרַנִי מְבָרְכִים בְּלֹא שֵׁם וּמַלְכוּת
The blessing Baruch ShePtarani should be recited without mentioning G‑d’s Name or Kingship.
וּמְבָרְכִים אוֹתָהּ גַּם בְּיוֹם ב', ה', בְּרֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ, וְלַאו דַּוְקָא בְּשַׁבָּת
It is customarily recited also on Monday, Thursday, or Rosh Chodesh, and not only on Shabbos.
מְקוּבָּל בְּיָדֵינוּ בְּשֵׁם מוֹרֵנוּ הַבַּעַל שֵׁם טוֹב
We have received the following tradition from the Baal Shem Tov:
כְּשֶׁשּׁוֹמְעִים דָּבָר לֹא טוֹב עַל אֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל
If one hears an unfavorable report about another Jew,
גַּם אִם אֵין מַכִּירִים אוֹתוֹ, צָרִיךְ לְהִצְטַעֵר צַעַר רַב
even a stranger, one should be deeply distressed,
כִּי אֶחָד מֵהֶם הוּא בְּוַדַּאי לֹא טוֹב
for either of two undesirable factors is true:
אִם אֱמֶת הַדָּבָר שֶׁמְּסַפְּרִים עַל פְּלוֹנִי, הֲלֹא הוּא לֹא טוֹב
If the unfavorable report is true, that is undesirable.
וְאִם אֵינוֹ אֱמֶת הֲלֹא הַמְּסַפֵּר נִמְצָא בְּמַצָּב לֹא טוֹב
And if it is untrue, the person conveying it is in an undesirable situation.
Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English