LEV417 One should also be aware of an important principle regarding issues of lashon hara. If one is interested in entering a relationship with someone else--such as by hiring him as a worker, becoming his business partner, making a shidduch with him, or the like--and even if he has not yet heard anything negative about the other person, he is still permitted to research and investigate by asking others about the person's character and dealings. Although it is possible that the people he asks will tell him derogatory information about the other person, it is nevertheless permitted to make these inquiries, since his sole intent is for his own benefit, in order to spare himself damage and avoid any quarrels, disputes or chillul Hashem, Heaven forbid. It seems to me, however, that the one inquiring is required to inform the person he is asking that he is interested in entering a shidduch or starting some other relationship with the subject of his inquiries. By doing so, he will avoid even the slightest transgression with his inquiries, since his intent is only for his own benefit and not in order to disparage the person, as we explained. (Nevertheless, he should take care not to decisively believe anything negative that the person tells him about the subject, because that would be a violation of the prohibition of believing lashon hara. Rather, he should consider the possibility that the information is true, in order to protect himself.) By informing the person of the reason for his inquiries, he also avoids transgressing the prohibition of וְלִפְנֵ֣י עִוֵּ֔ר לֹ֥א תִתֵּ֖ן מִכְשֹׁ֑ל, “Before a blind person do not place a stumbling block” (Vayikra 19:14), for even if the person exposes the negative aspects of the subject's character, he is not violating any prohibition, since he is aware of the constructive nature of the discussion. His intent in sharing the information is not to disparage the subject; rather, he is speaking the truth in order to help the one who was consulting with him on this matter--which is halachically permitted, as we explained elsewhere. However, the person who was asked for information should be very careful not to exaggerate and say more than he actually knows. There are other conditions that must be fulfilled in such a case; refer to section 9 of Hilchos Rechilus, where we discuss these halachos.
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