Acute Angles: I badmouthed my rabbi – do I need to ask his forgiveness? |
Dear Rabbi Ingram. I spoke lashon ha-ra to a friend about my rabbi about two months ago. I don’t know what got into me as I like my rabbi and he is always pleasant and helpful to me when I ask him questions as I do constantly. It’s been eating away at me, and I feel I must ask his forgiveness. I thought I’d wait until Erev Yom Kippur when it will be easier but perhaps I should do it right away? Hoping for your guidance please. Melissa K.
Thank you for putting your trust in me to answer your question even though I am not your rabbi!
You are making a big assumption. You are assuming that you have to ask his forgiveness at all!
You say: “I like my rabbi and he is always pleasant and helpful to me when I ask him questions as I do constantly” You also say that the lashon ha-ra occurred “about two months ago”. I would assume that you have spoken to him since then and his attitude towards you has presumably not changed. ........