Halacha2goThe one minute halacha

Speaking Lashon Hara about Oneself

There is a saying attributed to many Gedolei Yisroel, great Torah leaders, “Lashon hara oif zich, tor men nisht zogen,” one should not speak lashon hara, speak evil, about themselves. The actual prohibition of speaking lashon hara does not apply to speaking negatively about oneself. Nevertheless, we should not do so; just as one may not steal in jest in order not to get accustomed to stealing, likewise, we should not speak negatively about ourselves, so that we don’t become accustomed to gossiping. The Gemarah tells us, and this is brought down as a halachah, that one should not reveal their sins bein adam laMakom, committed between man and Hashem, to others, for in doing so they might give the impression that chas vesholom, they don’t care about having committed those sins. #265^?1