Question
What does it say about when my wife and I talk negative about others simply because we were sharing our internal feelings or frustration for spiritual or moral support?
Answer
You are asking an excellent question. King Solomon wrote in Proverbs 12:25 that if there is worry in a man’s heart he should “speak it.” The Talmud tells us that this means he should speak about it to a friend. That way he relieves some of the internal “pressure” that the worry is causing in him. If this is the reason that one discusses with his wife (or any other confidant for that matter) another person’s actions, it is permissible to do so. [But be careful not to use this as an excuse!]
All the Best,
Rabbi Moshe Rosenstein