Leviticus 19:16 "You shall not go around as a tale-bearer among your people"

Years ago, before large business and shopping centers were built, people would buy many of their household supplies from peddlers.

These peddlers bought wares in one town and sold them in another.

When they arrived in a town, they would place their loaded carts in the village center and call out to the people, announcing their bargains.

The Hebrew word for peddler is "Rochail".

The Torah also uses this same word for gossip.

Just as a peddler buys from one and sells to another, a person who gossips, listens to one person talking and then goes around telling others what he heard.

"Did you hear what she said?" "Just wait until I tell you what I heard him say!" "You're not going to believe what they said!"

Gossiping often causes people to get angry and upset with each other because of what someone told them.

Gossiping can hurt people's feelings and break up friendships.

In this Negative Mitzvah, the Torah cautions us not to gossip.