Not Listening

Are you now saying that the testimony of the angel charged with representing our deeds on High will have G-d imitating humans who reject gossip, and would "not listen" to the the very angel He created and charged with fulfilling the task of representing us in the Heavenly courts? Did the Rebbe, z"l, actually say or write what you wrote in your original quote? I ask this explicitly because this is a serious matter. I don't recall reading or hearing a quote from the Rebbe that so contradicted his teachings. Reply

Think I've got it :
To be sympathetic, to lend an ear to the wronged one. Reply

"Perhaps someone once tried to tell you about the ugly deeds of another.

You responded, “I’m not interested.”

Rabbi, I feel that "I'm not interested" (in the above context) is the right response. Telling people about other people's ugly deeds is "loshen hora."
What does the Torah say about this? Reply

not listening it would be miraculous if G-d would say '...i'm not interested. i don't even want to listen' when it came to my doings!

all the years in the workplace were filled with behind-the-back gossiping, back-stabbing, making fun, making up lies/untruths - and, these women loved it, pitting one friend against the other just for fun -- even some of the men joined in. how boring, destructive, and what a waste! i think of the story of how a woman unconsciously mentioned some not very nice things in earshot of the very person she was talking about. horrified, she ran to her rabbi (and if i remember right), he presented her with a basket of feathers, told her to go out into the town and toss the feathers out. when she finished and came back to the rabbi, she asked him, 'is that all, will i be forgiven?' '...no, not yet, now go back and gather every feather and return them in the basket...' Reply

How can this possibly mesh with what we are taught about Lashon ha'Ra? Please, if you have wisdom that can reconcile these two concepts, please enlighten me/us. Thank you. Reply

But isn't that encouraging gossip? Reply

Who's Knocking? Years ago I discovered that my life was a continuous test of action and reaction. I know everyone has a story, I respect that more than you know. My source of continual irritation and suffering was "rejection". It was the Divine Intervention Of G-d knocking on the door of my heart that motivated change and correction in my life. In fact, the thorn in my flesh became the gift of "empathy" for others.

One of my favorite songs is "The Hard Way" by Matisyahu. I find the chorus to be awe-inspiring truth. He sings, Who am I to say?
I know nothing it seems
Until it's way too late
I'm learning this the hard way!
Who am I to say?

Rectification is a gift to the Family of God. Today it knocks at the door of our hearts to bless us with with the strength of Acknowledgement, Adjustment. Change of Heart, Cleanup, Healing, Forgiveness, Improvement, Love, Remedy, Repair and Reform.

Would someone get the door? Reply

Great one! And thanks for the angel clarification in the comments section, Rabbi Freeman! Reply

Not long ago I read a book in which it it is written that when you listen to ugly deeds you are promoting lashon hara so what you are saying here is just the opposite, how can this be..
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How Not To Listen When A story is told to someone, the hearer (reciever) is the basic judge, who could decide whether what is said is an okay or a gossip. Reply

How lot to Listen - gossip I read the post by Anonymous posted 4-14-10 where the question is asked "when is gossip not gossip?"

Years ago, we shul teachers were invited to hear a rabbi speak; it is too long to remember how we got on the subject, but I remember his three questions on gossip:

1) Is it true?
2) Is it kind?
3) Is it necessary?

As a young woman, I had the attitude that if something was true, it was not gossip - whether the subject was "good" or "bad."

Kindness eliminates a lot of "bad" gossip - the unkind remark that hurts another person.

Necessity eliminates most talk about other people. My first use was when a co-worker got a promotion which is good; however, when others were not being promoted, it had the potential to cause resentments towards the individual.

Obviously, in the case of a predator, if it is true, it is necessary to report the facts to the proper authorities; although IMHO it would be wrong to talk to all until the predator was tried & convicted of the charges. Reply

LaShon Harah I'm a little confused. Is this not what Chafetz Chaim refered to as one of the types of Lashon Harah ? Reply

Should I speak?
When I am not sure if I should repeat some thing I ask my self the following three questions.

Is it true
Is it kind
Is it necessary Reply

How not to listen This matter can be tricky. How does one determine if the matter is idle gossip, the agenda of the one doing the telling? The telling can be a warning of things to come, or intended to bias your opinion of the person who did the deed. By not listening you discourage the spread of lashon hora. There is a fine line and I am confused about what to do. Only by listening can one make that determination. By not listening, we don't involve ourselves with this matter. It's a trap either way. Reply

how not to listen Perhaps, because i like most of the others posting comments am unsure of the right path to take, We should ask the person speaking to us about anothers UnGodly actions, "Please, before you tell me this, I would really appreciate knowing what you hope to accomplish by that which you are about to tell me? Do you want to see how we can help our friend? Do you want to know if i think this person need to be spoken to and to what end? Or are you just taking pleasure in the troubles of another and want me to share this feeling of false superiority? Or perhaps, are you telling me this as a warning to protect me from similar harm? Hopefully, then we can procede or not with the converstion in a better way. Reply

Agree with Michal above G-d does not need to be told what "good" or "bad" we have done here on earth.
Does He not already know these things? In fact to take it one step further, does He not already know our thoughts - good and bad?
Would the Rabbi please comment on this? Reply

Testifying to a judge is not Lashon Hara Telling the truth to the judge so that the judge can rule correctly is not Lashon Hara.

If G-d is the true judge, then the hypothetical angel would be bearing witness before a judge, not spreading Lashon Hara.

Following this "do as you would want G-d to do" reasoning, if you are a judge and do not want G-d to listen when an angel comes to report on you, then you should refuse to hear the testimony of witnesses and instead rule solely based on your own prejudices.

And, if a judge does that, and wrongly sentences an innocent person to die, the judge would not be punished, because G-d will not listen to the testimony concerning the judge causing the death.

There are valid reasons not to listen to Lashon Hara. But not the reasons given in this article. Because anything said to the true judge would be testimony, not Lashan Hara, and we should listen to testimony. Reply