One has to be very careful about speaking lashon hara about Eretz Yisrael

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find frequent mention in Chazal and the seforim hakedoshim of the very serious prohibition of speaking ill about Eretz Yisrael. Whether it’s about things that take place in Eretz Yisrael, or even the weather, the climate, the topography, the hills, or the steps… one has to be very careful about speaking lashon hara about Eretz Yisrael.

Recently, I heard an incredible story from the great-grandson of one of the main gabbaim of the Gerrer Rebbe, the Imrei Emes, who traveled with him on several of his trips to Eretz Yisrael at the turn of the last century. He shared the following story, which he heard from his father and his grandfather, who heard it from his great-grandfather directly.

The Imrei Emes was planning his third trip to Eretz Yisrael. The political climate in Europe was growing increasingly hostile, and he was hoping to set up an infrastructure in Eretz Yisrael where the chassidim could settle. His rebbetzin approached him and said that she’d like to go along to see Eretz Yisrael. The Rebbe tried to dissuade her and told her it wasn’t for her. But she asked several more times, expressing a strong desire to visit Eretz Yisrael, and eventually, the Rebbe acquiesced. A little while later, after they returned back home to Gur, the Rebbetzin passed away.

When the Imrei Emes was informed of the tragic news, he turned to his gabbai, and the first thing he said was, “I told her it was not for her.” The gabbai assumed that what the Rebbe meant was that he had understood that the arduous journey by boat would be too much for the Rebbetzin, who was of frail health. However, the Rebbe explained that he had meant something else.

“I knew that when the Rebbetzin would come back, she would share with her friends how difficult life is for the women living there,” the Rebbe explained. “Their homes have earth floors that are constantly dusty, they’re constantly cleaning, and they have to go down to the river to wash their clothes and to draw water from the well.”

The Imrei Emes continued, “One cannot speak ill of Eretz Yisrael, even without any intention to cause harm, and that’s why I said the trip was not for her.”

While of course the Rebbetzin never intended to convey anything negative when sharing her impressions, the repercussions were very powerful. It’s a sobering reminder how careful one has to be about saying anything that would be considered a slight to the honor of Hashem’s special place in this world.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1094)