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What’s Wrong with Gossip That’s True?

A Taste of Text—Tazria

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What's Wrong with Gossip That's True?: A Taste of Text—Tazria

Can you imagine a world bereft of evil talk, rumors, slander and gossip? What would it look like?

Handouts:	Tazria
Audio:	Listen to Audio \| Download this MP3
Topics:	Tazria, Tazria-Metzora, Negative Speech

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By Chana Weisberg

Chana Weisberg is the editor of TheJewishWoman.org and host of the Ordinary People, Extraordinary Stories podcast. She lectures internationally on issues relating to women, relationships, meaning, self-esteem and the Jewish soul. She is the author of six books. Her latest book, Shabbat Delights, is a two-volume series on the weekly Torah portion.

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16 Comments

Sandra Fernando May 3, 2023

Very thought provoking. Had to pause several times as I saw the significance of my own lashon hara. Many thanks. Reply

Benjamin Westfried Plano April 17, 2021

This reminds me of the gossip who began her scuttlebutt by saying, "You know me, and you know I never say anything about anyone unless it's good, so you can believe me, this is GOOD!"

Thank you for the video. Reply

Chana Miriam Canada April 20, 2020

Thank you Chana! Gained a lot from this Reply

Julie Vielbaum April 9, 2019

Mrs. Weisberg I love your teachings so much! Always a wonderful and insightful lesson. Thank you for choosing to spend your time dedicated to sharing your wisdom and knowledge. Reply

Chana Weisberg April 9, 2019

in response to Julie Vielbaum:

Thank you so much for your kind words, much appreciated! Reply

Anonymous Submitted April 20, 2018

On Chana Weisberg's article on gossip that is true (20/4/18)
I am taking out my hammer and nails so to speak to be certain that my speech is pure and clean and that my anger is thought out so that a favorable judgement or judgements will emerge in my thinking, feeling and speaking. You "hit the nail on the head." And having conveyed these messages in such an inspiring,encour -aging way I will pray to be -
come more loving of my fellow Jew and the true self
Gd gave me (Chelek Elokai me ma'al). Prayer for hu-mility and genuine ahavas yisroel is ignited by your soft spoken though power -ful words. ...Greateful to you...the arrow hit its target...
Bless us to aspire to this optimism and hopefulness that we can change...and to ask the Creator to guide us In these ways always; thank you for caring enough to share these precious pearls in a way that the Rebbe did.
He lives on within your own words and now within us all. Reply

Larry Snider Morrisville April 29, 2017

Thank you Chana, the Torah Study you lead was most insightfilled. Reply

Livingstone USA January 12, 2017

Holes in the Heart The illustration of the nails in a wooden fence is remarkable... What a sobering word picture to keep in mind to help guard against evil speech and even to be mindful of the tone, by words are spoken. For it was with the spoken word that the universe and all it contains were created... We as humans are the only part of The Creator's work that were given the spoken word for communication. No wonder our speech has such an impact as well as consequences, as we were designed in His image and likeness. Oh such power we've all been given!... Hence my prayer: May my words only be of praise and honor to the Holy One and pleasing in His sight at all times. Thank you and I enjoyed joining you via the web, at your study table. Reply

Anon USA April 21, 2016

Charcoal said it well Thank You. My Dad , may he rest in peace said think first then speak. Reply

Julie Canada April 17, 2016

Gossip is damaging Thank you so much. I have been the victim of gossiping for most of my life and am trying to be a better person and treat others better then they've treated me. Reply

Charcoal March 11, 2016

Gossip, who needs to hear it? It's amazing what our words can do, either to others or ourselves.
They can build up or they can tear down.
They can bring life or they can destroy.
In a world that has trouble enough trying to live together,
we could at least have the heart and soul not to crush one another also with our words.
For from the mouth comes the truth of the heart and mind. Reply

Stephen Taylor London April 22, 2015

Really inspirational.. I loved the last story, so very true and i will try and think about before the words flow from my mouth! Thanks for sharing your shuir. Reply

Danielle Deux Montagnes, Quebec April 11, 2013

Lason hora I am grateful for this wise teaching....thanks....I have been the victim of lashon hora a few times in my life( as probably most of us also have)....the meanest things said always came from the mouths of the jealous...but the lowest is those speaking lashon hora while pretending to have an honorable reason to do so, i.e. they share your need of prayer or pretending to be concerned....Please....the worse kind of friends are false friends who do this....I have learned to stay away from those most hurtful people
Blessings to you and yours....you are a wise and beautiful person
Shalom Reply

Anonymous Ft Lauderdale,Fl. March 11, 2013

It can take so much if you let it I was a victim of gossip. It's hard to imagine that I was a child and a relative had the audacity to continuously speak poorly about the family. I couldn't imagine how her kids turned out great while my life was a 'work in progress' that took a while to change,
"If only the grownups could have spoken up." Now I know some won't speak up.
The number one problem I had wasn't thinking she was right, but not knowing to ignore it and get on with what I needed to do. Dysfunction has many faces. You might not expect that someone so involved in her community could be so mean.
We could all benefit from thinking before speaking. My parents gossiped very little and I always knew that was the G-dly way to live. Yes, Lashon Hara darkens your spirit, but it no longer will darken mine. Reply

Steve Sioux City, Iowa April 26, 2012

Lashon Hara Of all the things that I've undertaken in my t'shuva, the laws of lashon hara are the ones that yielded the most immediate results. I don't have to wait for the end of the week or the end of the day; I get the positive result immediately because every moment spent in lashon hara is a worse moment. If I use that moment for something constructive I have a better moment, and I have it immediately. If I am around people gossiping and I can't gently redirect it, I can ask, "What positive message or action can we take from what you've just said?" Lashon hara is a parasite of time, a darkening of our vision to the beauty of life. Reply

annonymous Sudbury, ON April 25, 2012

It's Bad For the Soul I used to gossip. I always felt sullied afterwards. I've been the victim of gossip. I wonder if even "Lahson Hara" is true. It may be part of the truth, but how many times are facts presented out of context? I've experienced the devestation that comes from this. I kept my eyes rivited on my north star. These people don't create me. They may have impacted my life in a terrible way, but I slowly got strng enough to deal with the terrible impact. Coming back from that is like coming back from the dead. I have broken their curse on me and I know they curse their own lives with their words now. Of course they can always change direction, and believe it or not, this is what I hope for anyone who walks that slippery road. Reply

A Taste of Text

Each 20-minute video class uses a text from the weekly Torah portion to convey a contemporary insight on leading a more enriched life. Source sheets are included to help students follow along and gain a "taste" of the actual texts studied.

What's Wrong with Gossip That's True?: A Taste of Text—Tazria

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