Recorded and Published Gossip
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Question
In the laws of Lashon Hara, I heard a lecture from an important rabbi. During the lecture, a young man asked a question, he did not receive an immediate answer, and after a few minutes, he asked the same question again. The rabbi responded: "Do you think I'm a fool that I don't understand what is being asked of me the first time?" Of course, this is insulting and offensive. This lecture is recorded and available in a well-known lecture database. My question is, is it permissible to tell others about this for moral benefit, mentioning the rabbi's name, or since it is already public, is it still forbidden?
Answer
Hello,
It seems that in such a case, it is forbidden to tell.
Although the definition of a 'known matter' is when 3 people know about it, in the Chafetz Chaim it is explained that if there is reason to believe it will not become widely known, it is not considered known. It is difficult to say that a lecture found in a database with thousands or tens of thousands of other lectures is considered a known matter that everyone is sure to know about.
Additionally, it should be remembered that it is forbidden to tell a known matter if the intention is to disgrace the person.
Source
Chafetz Chaim, Rule 2