Good evening, everybody. Here is tonight’s Shemirat HaLashon broadcast. Dedications will be at the end.
When listening to Lashon Hara (evil speech), imagine your friend is eating meat that you realize is not kosher (fit according to Jewish law). Instead of telling him right away, “Hey, it’s not kosher. Stop eating,” you think to yourself, “Let him enjoy the meat, and when he finishes, then I’ll tell him it’s not kosher.” Of course, that would be ridiculous. Why should your friend continue to eat the non-kosher meat? With every bite he takes, he transgresses again and again, committing a more and more severe aveira (transgression) while consuming the treif (non-kosher). That’s how we appear when we wait until our friend finishes saying the Lashon Hara they’re telling. We have to stop them right in the middle and tell them, “Hey, hey, stop, stop, stop. Don’t say it.” With every word they say, we’re allowing them to transgress and get into the aveira worse and worse. And therefore, you have to stop him in his tracks.
Say, “Here’s a Halacha (Jewish law). When your friend starts talking to you about somebody, and you have no idea—you don’t know whether the person is about to say something that you’re allowed to listen to or not—what should you do?” For example, let’s say your friend comes up to you and says, “You know, your friend is a bit…” At that moment, you don’t know what’s coming. If you suspect that he’s about to tell you Lashon Hara, you have to stop him right there and say, “Wait one second. Is this information relevant and important for me to know? Is this information something that I need to know for my own constructive purpose?” If your friend says yes, then you can listen, but you’re not allowed to believe it. You also have to make sure that no other people are listening to the conversation, simply because the information doesn’t apply to them, and therefore they’re not permitted to listen.
However, what happens if your friend says, “No, the information is not relevant to you. It’s just a very interesting story”? Then you have to stop him right there and tell him, “Hey, listen, I’m not interested in listening. I think this is Lashon Hara.” This is a good tactic. Not only does your friend stop talking now, but they kind of get the idea that in the future, they’re not going to come to you with their stories. Your friend realizes that you’re not the best customer when it comes to their Lashon Hara.
And for her children as well. Along with the Chatan (groom) and Kallah (bride), the Levine family. Also, Anonymous, Anonymous, for the great Shemira (protection), Siyata Dishmaya, and Rachamei Shamayim (mercy of Heaven), that Hashem should send to those who really need it. Have a good night. Shalom.