Q. I downloaded from the Agudath Israel of America site almost all the issues of Jewish Observer, going back to 5724.
A number of articles concern criticisms of individuals, some still alive and some no longer, from a Torah viewpoint. The articles may have been l'toeles at the time; I find the lessons are timeless.
May I read these articles today and may I give them to others to read without transgressing any prohibitions of Lashon Hara?
A. Horav Shlomo Miller's shlit'a opinion is that once a story has been published and made public and known to all, there is usually no more transgression of loshon horah. The fact that this occurred in the past is not an aggravating factor. After all there are many stories and facts that expose negative facts of many different people written in Tanach, Talmud and Midrashim and in other well known seforim.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a
Important Numbers
