LEV716 "You shall not take vengeance nor bear any grudge against the children of your people." If you are angry at someone because he refused to grant you some favor and in revenge you speak loshon hora about him, you have violated these two prohibitions, in addition to having spoken loshon hora. For recalling that person's refusal to render you assistance, you are guilty of bearing a grudge. For slandering him, you are guilty of taking vengeance. You are obligated to forget the entire incident. To illustrate the extent of these two prohibitions, a certain scholar related the following anecdote: Lost and wandering in the desert, Gavrial finally spotted a man leading a herd of camels. Half–crazed from thirst, Gavrial crawled up to the man and begged for water. The camel owner refused and left Gavrial to the elements. Gavrial miraculously managed to get back to civilization and in a short time became very wealthy. One day, Gavrial's secretary announced that a camel dealer was interested in obtaining a loan from him for the purpose of enlarging his stock. When the man entered Gavrial's office, Gavrial immediately recognized the face. It was the person who had refused to aid him in his hour of need. Gavrial is obligated to grant the loan without recalling the desert incident. This is a true and difficult test Gavrial's strength of character, but it is required of him by these two mitzvos.