Friday, July 14, 2023

True But False

There are some people who write things that might be "objectively" true but engender a "קרירות", a sense of apathy, indifference and detachedness, from Torah, Avodas Hashem or Emunas Chochomim. Or it will negatively impact his moral standards. 

To give but one example: It is true that Chachmei Yisrael are not infallible - even Chazal. But harping on it creates a lack of awe and reverence that we must feel. That is one example of many. Sometimes, every word a person writes might be "true" but the article as a whole is Kfirah. So we have to be careful from such writing and from such people. [I could give examples of such people but  - maybe against my better judgment - will refrain from doing so]. 

There are other people who write things that one can disagree with even vehemently but the sense is that the words were written with a passion for Torah and with profound Yiras Shomayim. So not every word is true but the spirit is. 

Truth that is falsehood and falsehood that is truth. 

ראוי להזהר מלבטא כל דיבור שיגרום רפיון שטת המוסר בחיי שום איש. אפילו אם הדברים מצד עצמם נראים כנכונים, הרי הם מזיקים להשומע, אם הוא קשור בחוגו המוסרי, בתוכן מנוגד מהדברים הנשמעים לו, באותו פרק. [ש"ק ו' נ"ז]