What do you do when a shidduch call catches you off guard and you're not sure what you're allowed to say?

Opening the final section of the Sefer Chofetz Chaim, Rabbi Klapper turns to the everyday world of shidduch information. The ideal, he explains, is to ask your rav your questions before the phone ever rings. But if a call surprises you and you genuinely need to ask a shailah, don't stall the caller mid-conversation by saying you need to check whether it's lashon hara - that itself is a form of avak lashon hara and gives the impression something is wrong. Instead simply say you're not available now and offer to call back, then ask your rav in the meantime. Certain things must be said and certain things may never be said - and when unsure, always clarify first.

Start here as we open the halachos of shidduchim - listen in and come back tomorrow.

Hosted by Rabbi Ari Klapper and produced by Eli Podcast Productions, this episode is part of the Real Judaism series, available on RealJudaism.org. Don't forget to subscribe and share to stay connected with our daily lessons and timeless Torah insights!

Should you push a friend into a partnership or shidduch you'd never touch yourself?

Rabbi Klapper closes with the opposite case: may you encourage someone to enter a partnership or a shidduch? It depends on what you know. If you're aware of something negative — something that would make you refuse the partnership or shidduch for yourself — then you should not encourage the interested party to get involved. There are situations where you may not tell someone about a shidduch already made; but actively urging a person into something you yourself would avoid because you know it's damaging is certainly something you must not do for anyone else.

That completes our journey through hilchos rechilus — thank you for learning along.

Hosted by Rabbi Ari Klapper and produced by Eli Podcast Productions, this episode is part of the Real Judaism series, available on RealJudaism.org. Don't forget to subscribe and share to stay connected with our daily lessons and timeless Torah insights!

The partnership is already sealed — can you still warn Reuven that his partner is dishonest?

Rabbi Klapper asks what to do once the partnership is already made. It depends, says the Chofetz Chaim, on how Reuven will react. If you know Reuven is careful — that he won't break up the partnership without consulting a Rav and will guard against any loss — then, with the other rules of to'eles in place, it's proper to tell him. But if telling Reuven will make him explode in anger, start a fight, and dissolve the partnership on his own without going derech halacha, you may not reveal it. Even then, since we still want to spare Reuven the loss, any other way of protecting him should be used — ideally after speaking with a Rav.

Tomorrow: the opposite case — encouraging someone to join in.

Hosted by Rabbi Ari Klapper and produced by Eli Podcast Productions, this episode is part of the Real Judaism series, available on RealJudaism.org. Don't forget to subscribe and share to stay connected with our daily lessons and timeless Torah insights!