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Who wants a good life?
His first book takes its name from this verse in Tehillim (Psalms 34:13), and the name stuck to him. His claim is simple and demanding: a good life, in this world and the next, depends on what comes out of your mouth. We take him at his word and ask one more question: what does that look like in a meeting, on a call, and in the team chat?
Who was the Chafetz Chaim?
Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan (1838 to 1933) lived most of his life in the small town of Radin, in today's Belarus. His wife ran a small grocery store that supported the family, and he built a yeshiva that drew students from across Europe.
His first book, published anonymously, gathered the laws of lashon hara and rechilut (talebearing) from the Torah, the Talmud and the codes into one clear system. He called it Chafetz Chaim, "desires life," and the Jewish world has called him by that name ever since. A few years later he wrote Shemirat HaLashon, "guarding the tongue," on why it matters so much: the power of speech, its reward, and practical advice for changing a habit.
He also wrote the Mishnah Berurah, the commentary on the daily laws of the Shulchan Aruch that is still the standard guide to daily halacha in a great many Jewish homes, especially Ashkenazi ones. But the Jewish people remember him by the name of his book on speech.
Two minutes, five parts
Every day has the same five parts, top to bottom.
One law and the reason behind it, in a few plain sentences.
Tap to open the Chafetz Chaim in Hebrew, with our English.
What it looks like in meetings, emails, chats and reviews. This part is ours, built on his.
One small thing to do today, and one question for you or your study partner.
The why from Shmirat HaLashon, more of his words, and every source.
We always keep his words and our application apart, so you know which is which. Every source links to the original text.
Questions people ask
What is lashon hara?
Literally "evil speech": saying something negative about another person, even when it is completely true. Saying something false is worse still. The doses go through the details one at a time: writing, hints, jokes, listening, and more.
Is it ever allowed to say something negative?
Yes. The Chafetz Chaim sets out exact conditions when speaking is allowed, and sometimes required: for example, to protect someone from harm. Those conditions come later in the series, carefully, because they are easy to stretch.
Why is the order not the order of the book?
We start with the situations young professionals meet every day, and fill in the rest over time. Every dose cites the exact paragraph in the Chafetz Chaim, so you can always open the book itself.
Is this a halachic ruling?
No. This is for learning. Real situations have details that matter. For a practical question, ask your rav.
How do I use it on Shabbat?
The Shabbat dose is written for the Shabbat table. Open it on Friday and print it, or save it as a PDF, with the Print button.
Can I learn it with a chavruta (study partner)?
Yes, and it works best that way. Every dose ends with a question to talk through. Send the day's link on WhatsApp with the Share button.
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