Isn't Lashon HaRa Trayf?

During the Torah reading this morning, as is my usual practice, I let my eye wander from the Hebrew text to the English to the commentaries and notes in the Etz Hayim chumash. One that caught my attention today was a note on Leviticus 11.7. This portion of Leviticus--11.1-47--deals with the rules of kashrut and verse 7 is part of the listing of animals which are forbidden for food:

וְאֶת־הַחֲזִיר כִּי־מַפְרִיס פַּרְסָה הוּא וְשֹׁסַע שֶׁסַע פַּרְסָה וְהוּא גֵּרָה לֹא־יִגָּר טָמֵא הוּא לָכֶם׃

The note in Etz Hayim's drash commentary reads:

"Only twice in the Torah are we commended not to eat pork, yet every Jew knows that it is forbidden. The Torah commands us many more times to refrain from gossip and hurtful speech, yet many observant Jews do not sense that they are violating the Torah when they speak ill of others (Salanter)"

Sadly, I think the observation is very apt. I know many observant Jews who are very learned and well read in Torah and Talmud who are also the worst gossips in the world. I know the mitzvot concerning lashon hara can be very difficult to follow at times, but that's because they represent the ideal. What I find sad is that so many seem unwilling to strive for that ideal.

Topic: Torah