3229 —האשמת רב או יהודי בעבודה זרה מפרה את התורה

B"H, 26 Teves, 5715.

Brooklyn.

Havavac"h iy"a nu"n oseik b'tzt"z Moreinu HaRav Uriel Zimmer

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your message, with the letter you received—which was attached to me...

One who says about a rabbi from Israel (and even about a simple Jew) that he worships avodah zarah b'shituf (idolatry in partnership)—if the one who says this is a fool, it is known that a fool who causes damage is exempt, and he is not of sound mind and exempt from all mitzvos. But someone who repeats these words intentionally, and even more so if this person has influence over others—this is forbidden, not just rabbinically but by Torah law—unless he has proof (what is called proof according to Torah) that it is permitted to say such a thing about a specific person. If not—according to our Sages of blessed memory, such speech is as severe as idolatry, forbidden relations, and murder. It is understood that one must examine the character of anyone who repeats such statements.

There is an essential difference between harsh expressions, insults, and curses said regarding opinions or the program of a party—or even about the party itself—and when discussing specific individuals. For example: The Rambam rules (Hilchos Teshuvah 3:7) that one who says G‑d has a body and form is considered a heretic. And obviously he would never write, G‑d forbid, such a title about specific people in his time (or before him). On the contrary—he answered their questions etc., and this is not the place for further discussion. And if this applies regarding the Rambam's rulings...

I heard from my father-in-law the Rebbe—that between Jew and Jew, no matter how distant they are from each other in spiritual stature, one should never say "lehavdil" (to distinguish between them)...

At the end of the aforementioned letter, where there is fear for the path on which the Chabad movement is being led: Let his heart be confident that Hashem, Who watches over every Jew with individual Divine Providence—as taught by the Baal Shem Tov—will save Chabad chassidim from dangers on their path and will also save them from slander. The chassidic movement has been tested in such matters since its founding and birth in the days of the Baal Shem Tov and Rabbeinu HaZaken until our times.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that accusing any Jew—even more so a rabbi—of idol worship without clear Torah evidence is either foolishness or a grave sin. Such accusations are strictly forbidden by Torah law and can cause great harm; instead, we must judge fellow Jews favorably.