Q&A: Gossip, Gossip, Gossip
Gossip, Gossip, Gossip
Question
It is forbidden to tell a buyer that the seller cheated him if he will not act through a religious court, but instead will use force to recover the overcharge for himself.
I asked: why?
After all, [as far as I remember correctly,] a person may enforce his own rights. So what is wrong if he seizes the seller’s money without going to a religious court?
That seems to be a permitted action, doesn’t it?
Answer
First, there is a concern that he will act improperly, or take too much, or that this will create a general breach in the norm and lead to people enforcing justice without due process.
Quite apart from that, the rule that a person may enforce his own rights is complicated, and it is really not at all simple that you may always carry out on your own whatever seems to you to be justified. So, for example, according to most opinions this applies only where you have evidence that would be admissible in a religious court. But if you do have such evidence, go to a religious court, and then they will give you permission to turn to the civil courts if necessary.