Rabbi Konigsburg's Blog

 
“Did you hear the news about him? Well, actually, I probably shouldn’t tell”
“What a tease! Now you have to tell me!”
 
Speaking comes so naturally to many of us, that we often forget to think before we speak. If we are lucky, we think as we speak, and occasionally we speak without even thinking at all. Our speech plays such a central role in our social interactions that it quickly becomes second nature. Therefore, it is not surprising that we will catch ourselves midsentence just as we were about to spread gossip.
 
What do you do in the moment when your friend knows you have a juicy tidbit about someone else, but you have yet to say it? Do you submit to their request and tell it to them anyway to appease their intense curiosity? What about when you are the immensely curious friend? Do you have the willpower to stay your curiosity and let your friend off the hook?
 
In Parshat Mishpatim, amongst all the rules that ensure a just society, God commands the Israelites to not carry false rumors. The Rabbis understood this to mean that not only should you not say something false or damaging about somebody to others, but you shouldn’t even listen to others who might be spreading such reports. In order for society to function properly, we have to recognize that words can be twisted and used to portray falsehoods and ultimately we should form our own personal opinions of others based on our own experiences.
 
“Yeah, but it’s probably best left unsaid.”
“I guess you are right. I’ll let it go.”