It turns out, that feeling is ancient, and our tradition has some pretty pointed wisdom about it.
We're diving into a fascinating, short-but-powerful teaching found in the Yalkut Shimoni on Torah, specifically section 187. Now, the Yalkut Shimoni is a compilation of midrashim – those beautiful, imaginative expansions on the Hebrew Bible – collected from various sources. Think of it like a treasure chest filled with insights from across Jewish history.
So, what's this particular gem about?
It's pretty straightforward: "Turn yourself back (away from) what you asked and don’t continue in this matter..." In other words, sometimes the best course of action is to just...let it go. Withdraw the question. Don't keep poking.
But why?
Well, the Yalkut Shimoni doesn't leave us hanging. It immediately follows up with a powerful verse from Proverbs (21:23): "Who watches/shomer his mouth and his tongue, keeps/shomer his soul from trouble."
See that word shomer? It means "watches" or "keeps." It’s about being a guardian, a protector. And in this context, it’s telling us that guarding our speech is directly connected to guarding our very souls. How many times has a question, innocently intended, stirred up a hornet's nest of trouble? How many times have we wished we could take back something we said, or something we asked? It’s human nature to be curious, but unchecked curiosity, especially when expressed through our words, can be a dangerous thing.
The teaching here isn't necessarily about avoiding difficult conversations altogether. It's about discernment. It's about recognizing when a question is truly necessary, and when it's simply fueling gossip, negativity, or unnecessary conflict. It's about choosing silence, not out of fear, but out of wisdom. It’s about protecting yourself, and others, from potential harm.
It’s a powerful reminder that words have weight. They have consequences. And sometimes, the greatest act of strength is knowing when to hold them back. So, the next time you're tempted to ask a question that might stir up trouble, remember this teaching from the Yalkut Shimoni. Maybe, just maybe, the wisest thing to do is to turn yourself back, and protect your soul from unnecessary trouble.
What do you think? Is there a question in your own life right now that maybe, just maybe, is better left unasked?