One who has good tidings for his friend should rush to share them with him. It will invigorate his friend and it is considered a mitzvah. This is all the more so when one shares good news with a righteous person. For one who rejuvenates the spirit of a righteous person receives more life, as we find regarding Serach, the daughter of Asher, who told Yaakov the good tidings that Yosef was still alive and in that merit she entered the Garden of Eden alive (Derech Eretz Zuta 1). This matter is included in the mitzvah of gemilus chasadim (bestowing kindness).
Conversely, a person should be careful to not utter bad tidings, for our Sages of blessed memory said (see Pesachim 3b) that one who brings bad tidings of him it is written, One who utters slander is a fool (Mishlei 10:18). Our Rabbis also said (see Megillah 15a) that even one who sends his friend to enquire about a certain matter and return with the information — if the information is negative, he should not report it. We see this from the fact that Hasach did not repeat Esther’s response to Mordechai, since it was negative. If, on a rare occasion, one has no choice but to pass on negative tidings, then it should be done with a hint, so that the person will understand on his own.
