Communities

Writing
Writing
Codidact Meta
Codidact Meta
The Great Outdoors
The Great Outdoors
Photography & Video
Photography & Video
Scientific Speculation
Scientific Speculation
Cooking
Cooking
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Judaism
Judaism
Languages & Linguistics
Languages & Linguistics
Software Development
Software Development
Mathematics
Mathematics
Christianity
Christianity
Code Golf
Code Golf
Music
Music
Physics
Physics
Linux Systems
Linux Systems
Power Users
Power Users
Tabletop RPGs
Tabletop RPGs
Community Proposals
Community Proposals
tag:snake search within a tag
answers:0 unanswered questions
user:xxxx search by author id
score:0.5 posts with 0.5+ score
"snake oil" exact phrase
votes:4 posts with 4+ votes
created:<1w created < 1 week ago
post_type:xxxx type of post
Search help
Notifications
Mark all as read See all your notifications »
Q&A

Welcome to the Judaism community on Codidact!

Will you help us build our community of learners? Drop into our study hall, ask questions, help others with answers to their questions, share a d'var torah if you're so inclined, invite your friends, and join us in building this community together. Not an ask-the-rabbi service, just people at all levels learning together.

Comments on Does the Torah guarantee free speech?

Post

Does the Torah guarantee free speech?

+3
−0

There are certain categories of speech which are outright forbidden by the Torah (various forms of gossip, profanity, blasphemy, curse, etc.).

Theoretically speaking, could the Sanhedrin legislate further restrictions on speech, or does the Torah guarantee free speech to Jews?

History
Why does this post require attention from curators or moderators?
You might want to add some details to your flag.
Why should this post be closed?

1 comment thread

General comments (6 comments)
General comments
rosends‭ wrote almost 4 years ago

with all the halachic limitations and the conventional wisdom of statements like וְלֹא מָצָאתִי לַגּוּף טוֹב אֶלָּא שְׁתִיקָה I'm not sure why there would be any notion of freedom of speech

manassehkatz‭ wrote almost 4 years ago

On the other hand, within the scope of Torah, free speech - stating your opinion - seems to be a very valid thing. I can't remember the specifics at the moment, but there is at least one famous incident of an argument over Halachah that ends with a Bas Kol siding with the outvoted Rabbi (essentially) - the speech/stated opinion is permitted - even encouraged - as long as the Halachah is followed according to the established rule (Mesorah and/or majority decision, depending on the situation).

AA ‭ wrote almost 4 years ago

How about אבק לשון הרע?

simyou‭ wrote almost 4 years ago

The Torah definitely doesn't guarantee free speech - that would require a positive statement, and there is not such statement in the Torah. A better question is if it values free speech, and if there are any sources which are relevant.

DonielF‭ wrote almost 4 years ago

@AA Would depend on your interpretation of the halachos I think. The simplest reading is that it’s Rabbinically prohibited, but I’ve heard some apologists claiming it’s their interpretations of the verses and therefore it’s really Biblically prohibited, or the opposite approach that they’re discouraging it but it’s not strictly prohibited.