DEUT1508 The Torah and Talmud both express the gravity of loshon hora. The Torah [this verse, Rashi] places a curse on those who speak evil of others, while the Talmud (Erchin 15b) equates speaking loshon hara with atheism. Besides the inherent severity of loshon hora, the gravity is compounded by repetition; a person who isn't careful with his speech will violate the prohibition thousands of times. Therefore, we definitely will not be worthy of God's blessings until we cease speaking loshon hora. After careful observation, I have come to the realization that the general public is not aware that even if a defamatory is true it constitutes loshon hora. Even those familiar with this fundamental principle have a tendency to excuse their loshon hora by misquoting and misapplying various sources. Conversely, lack of correct knowledge can mislead a person into thinking that scrupulously observing every detail of this mitzvah is only possible by becoming a secluded hermit. These and other errors have brought about a condition in which there are few indeed who refrain from speaking loshon hora.