EXOD758 First, one should be familiar with the basic halachic principles regarding lashon hara and rechilus. (“Lashon hara” means speaking disparagingly of another person, and “rechilus” means informing another person of the negative things that someone else said about him or did to him.) Both lashon hara and rechilus are forbidden even if what the speaker says is true, as we will explain later, with Hashem's help, based on the consensus of all the poskim. Second, the prohibition of lashon hara and rechilus applies whether the person who is being spoken about is present or absent. Third, there is no distinction made between one who speaks lashon hara and who accepts the lashon hara, as we will explain later. One is considered to have “accepted lashon hara if he believes, in his heart, the speaker’s negative comments. Even if one does not add any of his own words to the speaker's comments, but merely believes the lashon hara or rechilus that he heard, he is still considered “one who bears a false report,” and has violated the prohibition of לֹ֥א תִשָּׂ֖א שֵׁ֣מַע שָׁ֑וְא, “Do not bear a false report" (Shemos 23:1). Every one of these principles has many offshoots and facets, as is the case with all other aspects of the Torah.