HOW TO AVOID HEARING LASHON HARA

13 IYAR 5771

Adapted From: Chofetz Chaim A Daily Companion (p. 104-105)

Rabbi Yehudah Zev Segal זצ"ל

The Art of Listening
One of the factors which makes lashon hara such a serious sin is that it involves the interaction of two people – the speaker and the listener. It is forbidden to believe lashon hara. One who does so has transgressed a Torah prohibition (see Shemot 23:1 with Rashi). The punishment for accepting lashon hara is worse than the punishment for speaking lashon hara.

Listening to lashon hara is forbidden even if the listener does not intend to accept the information. However, there is a difference between accepting lashon hara and listening with the intention of not believing what one is about to hear…
Let’s understand the text

WHY DO YOU THINK ACCEPTING LASHON HARA IS WORSE THAN SPEAKING LASHON HARA?

When you’re talking to a friend and he/she is about to say lashon hara what should you do? 

Adapted from: We Want Life (p. 87-88)

By: Rabbi Yisroel Greenwald

1. Try to stop the Lashon Hara by changing the topic of conversation-like telling a joke. 
2. If this fails, you must avoid listening to the Lashon Hara yourself; therefore you should either leave the group or cover your ears in order to not hear what is being said. 
3. If you can’t cover your ears, then walk away. 
4. If you can’t leave, then stay and don’t believe what you hear.
5. If you can't-resolve firmly not to believe what you hear: 

a. decide in your mind not to enjoy listening to the Lashon Hara

b. avoid nodding, smiling or in any way acting as if you agree with what is being said

c. preferably act in a manner that shows that you do not approve of the Lashon Hara


Let’s understand the text

• DISCUSS THE STEPS OF THAT THE HALACHA OUTLINES FOR HOW TO AVAOID HEARING LASHON HARA?
• DISCUSS HOW YOU WOULD PRACTICALLY GO ABOUT DOING THIS

ACTIVITY
Try to come up with a code word or expression to say if Lashon Hara is being spoken, so that the group will know to stop.
For example: “Please pass the pickles.”