Atonement for Slander
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Question
I spoke slander about a friend publicly about her family many years ago (I was a child, but I think after Bat Mitzvah). That friend heard the slander at the time and refuted my words, proving they were incorrect. How can I atone for this sin?
Answer
Hello,
Generally, the way to atone for slander includes asking forgiveness from the person harmed and nullifying the slander among the listeners. This means convincing them that it was not true.
However, when the listeners have already forgotten about the matter, there is no need to remind them of the story and say it is not true. Because mentioning it anew will only remind them of the disgrace that has already been forgotten.
Therefore, in practice, you only need to ask forgiveness from the person mentioned.
Source
Chafetz Chaim book.