The Power of Words: Rabbi Levi Rabinowitz's Teachings

The Gaon Rabbi Levi Rabinowitz, author of Maadanei HaShulchan, was known for his deep Torah knowledge and humility. He was particularly recognized for his discipline in speech. Rabbi Rabinowitz was so careful with his words and avoided speaking negatively about another Jew that he earned the title "The Chofetz Chaim of Jerusalem" from other Torah leaders. People would come from all over Jerusalem to ask for his blessings, and they found that each one was fulfilled completely. They believed it was because he always spoke with holiness and purity.

In a book published in his memory, Ashkavtei D'Rabbi Levi, his son, Rabbi Elchanan, shares a story about his father’s remarkable discipline when it came to speech. "When I was a bar mitzvah boy, I had a study partner who came to learn with me every day from 4:30 to 7:00 in the evening. We completed many pages of learning together," Rabbi Elchanan remembers. "But someone became jealous of our partnership and went to tell my father that I wasn't studying enough."

One day, Rabbi Levi Rabinowitz approached his son and asked how his learning was going. Surprised, Rabbi Elchanan asked, "Father, who told you this? I need to know who said this to you." His father firmly responded, "It is forbidden to say, and forbidden to speak lashon hara (evil speech)."

Days later, Rabbi Elchanan went to his father again, urging him to reveal the identity of the person who had shared this information. Rabbi Levi's response left a lasting impression on him: "From the day I gained understanding, I have never spoken lashon hara." He continued, "At first, it was difficult, but I overcame it. And since then, I don’t even have the desire to do it."

Eventually, Rabbi Elchanan found out who had spoken against him. On Yom Kippur, the person came to ask forgiveness—and he kindly forgave him.

Rabbi Elchanan shares another story that highlights just how deeply his father was committed to guarding his speech. "A family friend once asked about a young man being considered for his daughter. After investigating the young man, he learned some things that he found unpleasant, and as a result, decided to cancel the match."

Rabbi Levi Rabinowitz’s response was simple but powerful: "When it was a practical matter, it was permitted to talk about it. Now that the decision has been made, it is no longer our concern, and it is forbidden to discuss it."

One day, Rabbi Elchanan asked his father how he reached such an extraordinary level of speech discipline, as it is rare to find anyone who has attained such a high standard. His father replied, "When I was young, there was a great controversy in Jerusalem about one of the great Torah leaders of the generation. Everyone in the city was gossiping about the issue. I thought to myself, 'Perhaps it's true that this great man doesn't deserve his position, but is he a Jew? Yes. And it is forbidden to speak badly about any Jew.' At that moment, I made a decision: from that time on, I would never speak lashon hara, nor would I listen to it."

Rabbi Levi Rabinowitz’s words and actions remind us of the Chofetz Chaim’s teachings in the introduction to his famous book Chofetz Chaim, where he writes, "When we take a good, honest look at ourselves and ask what sins have caused this long exile, we find quite a few. But the one that stands out above the rest is how we use our words. The way we speak—especially speaking negatively about others—is the biggest reason we’re still in exile.."

This powerful reminder calls us to reflect on how our speech can either elevate or lower us, and the importance of guarding our words to bring about true blessing in our lives.