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THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE FOR EVERY JEWISH COMMUNITY
B.S.D.
Rabbi Shimon Kessin
 Hashem's search for the Loshon Hora-free community
Hashem created the world through the attribute of Justice. This means that humans, especially Jews, must create their own eternal destiny through their own efforts. To evaluate their performance, an accusing angel, the Satan, is assigned the task of overseeing this process. When Jewish communities are rife with sins and if, in addition, they contain much conflict, Loshon Hora and Rechilus, then the Satan continuously reminds Hashem of this situation in his capacity as the angel of Justice. He implores Hashem through the principle of Justice to abandon His Jewish children because of their evil ways saying, "If they rebel against you, their father, and your commandments, it is one thing, but why must they be so evil to themselves, to their own brothers and sisters? These children who have so much hate amongst themselves surely do not deserve a father such as you!"
The Satan is entitled to say these things because of his spiritual assignment. Nevertheless, Hashem, the father, is sorely distressed (so to speak) by these accusations since they are absolutely true. Like any father who loves his children dearly, He does not want to hear of the degradation of His children, no matter what the truth162.
In response to these terrible accusations, Hashem continuously scans the earth to find at least one Jewish community that is an exception to this situation, where conflicts and Loshon Hora barely exist and where brotherly love is the norm. Unfortunately, such a community is yet to be found. If it were found, Hashem, as the father, could reject the universal quality of the Satan's accusations and respond to him by saying, "Look at my children in such and such a place and see how they love and respect each other. See how careful they are with their words so as not to harm each other. For such a community and its merit, I will spare all the other communities and I will never abandon them!"163. The power of such a Loshon Hora-free community is so great that even were there only one of them, they could awaken the merits to spare all the others.
The necessary action to create the Loshon Hora-free community
How would such a Loshon Hora-free community be established? Firstly, the community would see to it that every adult member amongst them would have a thorough knowledge of the laws of Loshon Hora and Rechilus. In addition, they would teach this knowledge to all their children starting at an early age. Their educational institutions would continuously focus on this awareness and give it a top priority.
Secondly, their leaders would continuously encourage all communal members never to forget the importance of Shmiras Haloshon and the absolute necessity for unity and brotherhood. On every possible occasion they would remind the community of the dangers inherent in becoming negligent in this regard.
Thirdly, the leaders would institute that at certain times and during certain hours, the community would participate in a taanis dibbur or speech-fast where people would refrain from speaking at all164. This would insure that the sins of any Loshon Hora that might have been spoken would be periodically erased and hold no power in Heaven at all.
This most fortunate community would lead the Jewish people to their redemption
Can such a Jewish community be established? The answer is absolutely yes! Who will be the first? One thing is for certain. This most fortunate community would lead the Jewish people to their redemption165. Why not make it yours? Do everything possible to see that this happens. May Hashem grant you much success in this endeavor.
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