When family members or friends are ill, there is a way to invoke one of Hashem's most potent protections - through the great power of Shmiras Haloshon. Machsom L'Fi, a successful Shmiras Haloshon program is a project that a person or group can undertake to gain Hashem's compassion and added protection in a time of trouble. "Machsom L'Fi" means "a guard for the mouth".
It was the protection of this mitzvah that Yaakov called upon as he was on his way to Lavan's house. Knowing there were dangers ahead, the Midrash says, he asked Hashem to guard him from speaking loshon hora. This alone, he knew, would guard him from all else.
Machsom L'Fi is a simple way to build in oneself a sharper awareness of speech and a greater degree of self-discipline in this area. Participants discover that the one or two hours a day they spend with Machsom L'Fi strengthen them in their efforts at Shmiras Haloshon throughout the day.
Machsom L'Fi is an especially powerful means of generating merit for those in need of help from Hashem. When we understand that Hashem runs the world, we know that we are not helpless when faced with adversity. We know that teshurva, tefilla, and tzedaka can overturn dercrees and overturn destiny. Shmirah Haloshon is a source of tremendous merit for those in need of a salvation. It is simply middah k'negged middah (measure for measure). The compassion you show in judging and speaking of others favorably arouses Heaven's compassion for you and your loved ones.
Any group, individual, family or neighborhood can participate. The group divides the day into one or two hour time slots extending through the normal waking hours. Each member then makes a commitment to be especially careful not to speak, hear, read or wirte any loshon hora, and to refrain from anger during their chosen period. This can be used as a powerful tool to bring help to those in need. Your alloted time period can be dedicated to be a merit for those in need and who need help from Hashem.
Naturally, loshon hora is still prohibited for each member for the entire day. But the special commitment for this one/two hour period provides a focus during which a person is especially sensitive to the words spoken and heard. As a result of the group's effort, the hours of each day are filled with a heightened observance of Shmiras Haloshon, a mitzvah that opens the gates of Hashem's mercy, for the benefit of the person who is ill or needs help. We can only imagine the tremendous nachas we bring to the Ribono shel Olom with this winning combination of chesed (kindness) and by extending our hand to those in need by guarding the quality of our speech. Also the mutual cooperation from such a group adds to the unity of the community and all Jews for the purpose of chesed.
| Guideline Notes | Powerful Z'chus | Benefits of Shmiras Haloshon Yomi |
For more information email your local coordinator.
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