Editing Defamation (section)

===Judaism===
{{see also |Halakha |Rabbinic authority}}

''[[The Jewish Encyclopedia]]'' has two articles on the topic: calumny<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/3942-calumny |title=Calumny |author=Kaufmann Kohler |author2=S. Schulman |website=[[The Jewish Encyclopedia]] |access-date=6 August 2023}}</ref> and slander.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/9943-libel-and-slander |title=Slander |author=Wilhelm Bacher |author2=Judah David Eisenstein |website=[[The Jewish Encyclopedia]] |access-date=6 August 2023}}</ref>

The two terms seem to be conflated. It is not clear which, if any, corresponds to harmful and true speech, and which to harmful and false speech. Combined with Wikipedia's entry on ''lashon hara'' (terms are spelled somewhat differently), it might be deduced that: 
* calumny, or ''leshon hara'', is true speech that is negative or harmful
* slander, or ''(hotzaat) shem ra'', is untrue speech
The Wikipedia article on ''lashon hara'' equates it to [[detraction]]. And classifies all of slander, defamation, and calumny, as the same{{snd}}and equal to ''hotzaat shem ra''.

====Calumny====
{{further |Lashon hara}}

It is described as a [[sin]], based on both the [[Bible]] ("gossip") and [[rabbinic literature]] (''leshon hara'', "the evil tongue"). Intentionally false [[accusation]]s and also injurious [[gossip]]. Both forbidden in the [[Torah]]. Of the [[Ten Commandments]], relevant is the ninth (in [[Judaism]]): [[Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour]].

According to the article, the {{sic |slanderous |expected=calumnious}} tongue ruins the slanderer, the listener, and the maligned. The [[divine presence]] will be denied to [[lie|liars]], [[hypocrisy|hypocrites]], [[wikt:scoff|scoffers]], and slanderers. Slander is morally equated to [[idolatry]], [[adultery]], and [[murder]].

According to the authors, some [[rabbi]]s saw [[peritonsillar abscess|quinsy]], [[leprosy]] (related to [[Miriam]] speaking ill of Moses), [[stoning]], as deserved punishments. And the [[Midrash]] attributes hardships of various figures (such as [[Joseph (Genesis)|Joseph]], [[Moses]], [[Elijah]], [[Isaiah]]) to sins of the tongue.

As for [[legal remedies]], the article refers to ethical and religious sanctions from the Bible and the [[Talmud]], arguing that the [[law]] cannot repair subtle damage to reputation{{snd}}with two exceptions. Bringing an evil name upon one's [[wife]] (punished with a fine and by disallowing [[divorce]]). [[Perjury]], which would result in the perpetrator receiving same punishment, as the one their false testimony would have brought upon the falsely accused.

The authors conclude that calumny was met with [[righteous indignation]] and penal severity in [[Jewish thought]], and this was in accordance with the ethical principle of treating the honour of others as one's own.

====Slander====
{{further |he:הוצאת שם רע}}

Defined as "false and malicious defamation" ([[circular definition]]) of another's reputation and character, disgracing them in their [[community]]. Here, it is distinguished from ''leshon hara'' by being deliberately false. Punishments include [[fine (penalty)|fines]] and [[damages]].

According to the authors, the [[Law of Moses]] prescribed [[flagellation]] and monetary compensation for a [[husband]] who, without reasonable cause, questioned the [[virginity]] of his newly married wife; and divorce was disallowed (similarly with calumny). The article notes that after the destruction of the [[Temple in Jerusalem]], these laws prescribing fines and [[capital punishment]] ceased.

Rabbinical [[wikt:enactment|enactment]]s 	against slander are described as very stringent. Abusive language might have been exempt from any [[legal liability]], unless it was considered slander (against both the living and the deceased). Fines and [[excommunication]] were a possibility. But [[fasting]] and [[wikt:apology|apology]] also seemed to be acceptable [[atonement]]s.