daf bit: Bava Batra 164

The g'mara at the bottom of yesterday's daf relates two stories about Rabbi and R' Shimon b. Rabbi. In the first episode, R' Shimon presented Rabbi with a deed that has a flaw (according to Rabbi), and when Rabbi showed displeasure R' Shimon said "I didn't write it; R' Yehudah Hayyata wrote it". Rabbi rebuked R' Shimon for tale-bearing. (All he needed to do was disclaim it; he didn't need to call out someone else.) In the second episode, Rabbi has just finished reading a section of psalms and praised the manuscript. R' Shimon said "I didn't write it; R' Yehudah Hayyata wrote it", and again Rabbi rebuked him for tale-bearing. The g'mara then asks: in the first case it's obvious why he would rebuke, as the other person is being called out for something bad, but why is the second case tale-bearing when it's positive? Because R' Dimi brother of R' Safra taught: one should never speak in praise of his friend, because by praising him he brings about blame -- people will examine his other deeds more closely and thus come to see negative things. (164b)

There are people who hold this way (including the Chofetz Chayim, I believe), but this approach conflicts with another strong custom to give credit where it is due. We should always try to teach torah in the name of the person who taught it to us, for example, and you see this throughout the talmud (and later). And in modern times, the dinner or other celebration to honor prominent people in the Jewish community is common (usually as part of a fundraising appeal). I don't know whether there is some further nuance that makes "R' Ploni taught me this torah" and "Ploni has done these things for the community" good and "R' Ploni wrote this manuscript" bad, or if R' Dimi's position (shared by Rabbi) is a minority view, or what.

(Today's daf is 165.)