The pasuk says in Ki Seitzei (22:19) that if a man spreads untruthful stories about his new bride, it will cost him a 400 zuz penalty. However says the pasuk (22:29), if a man forces a single girl to have relations with him, he pays only 200 zuz. The MedrashHaGadol says that we see from here that the Torah is stricter with words than with actions.
Similarly we find that if someone curses his parents he receives the death penalty of Skela,
stoning, which is considered the most severe punishment. However if he physically strikes his parents he is put to death by Chenek, strangulation, which is considered less severe.
"Zachor Eis Asher Asa Hashem L'MiriamBaDerechB'TzaischemMiMitzrayim"
The Ramban and other Rishonim count, among the Mitzvos Aseh
Min HaTorah, the mitzva of remembering and saying with your mouth each
day what Hashem did to Miriam when she spoke about her brother Moshe.
The Chofetz Chaim in ShaarTvunahPerek 12 says that being Mikayem
this mitzva can save you from the aveira of Lashon Hara. More than
just saying the pasuk, says the Chofetz Chaim, one must think about the
incident in order for it to have its intended effect.
Listen to our ShemirasHaLashonYomi in our audio section. Two halachos a day according to the Luach. www.revach.net/audioarchives.php
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