This morning, at Synagogue, the Rabbi continued an unfinished speech that was given over last Sabbath. The former part of it were the ideas behind Jewish consumption (eating kosher)--the things we put in our mouth. "Last week," the Rabbi began, "we discussed the importance of the things we put in our mouths; today we'll discuss the importance of the things we let out our mouths."
I cannot quote verbatim, but from what I understood, the reason why people tend to say negative remarks about other people is because they perceive the world with a 'bad eye.' Thus being said, in order to create peace in the world, it is incumbent on all people to alter this quality.
In the proverb 18:21, king David writes, "The tongue has the power of life and death."
An Aramaic officer was commanded to bring the sick King a cup of lion's milk (a task extremely dangerous). Once he acquired it, he brought it to the King and said, "Here's the 'kelevi' milk you wanted." Immediately, the King became furious and sentenced him to death. On his way to the gallows, the Aramaic officer asked the sentencer, "Why am I being put to death?" The latter said, "'Cause you degraded the King by bringing him dog's milk." "But you don't understand," the sentenced one cried, "in Aramaic, the word 'Kelevi' means lion; in Hebrew it means dog! Spare me my life!" Immediately, the king was notified and he drank the milk. Shortly after, he became cured and the Aramaic officer was rewarded (Talmud).
Indeed, "The tongue has the power of life and death." If we begin looking at the world optimistically, we'll be at peace with ourselves and with the people surrounding our every day lives.
Thanks for reading,
Rubix
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