LEV904 "You shall not profane My Holy Name". We are warned not to cause chilul Hashem. There are a number of aspects to this prohibition (see Rambam, Sefer Hamitzvos 63). If a person commits a transgression without deriving physical pleasure from it, it is considered a revolt against Hashem Yisborach and a chilul Hashem. Speaking loshon hora is in this category. Another aspect of chilul Hashem involved in loshon hora is the laxity shown towards this mitzvah. If someone was accidentally eating pork and a friend would point this out to him, he would immediately spit it out. When someone is censored for speaking loshon hora, however, he has a thousand rationalizations and excuses. He will argue that what he is saying is not considered loshon hora and that the person he is speaking about is in a category that gives one license to speak against him. Not only will he not heed the rebuke, but he may be spurred on to increase his loshon hora. This total regard for one of God's mitzvos is a chilul Hashem. Yet another aspect of chilul Hashem is when a distinguished person transgresses and others follow his example. Therefore, one who studies Torah has an even greater obligation than others to guard his speech.