Reply To: Kabbalas Loshon Horo

I don’t think that would be a deciding factor in determining if YOUR actions were halachically correct.

No. But it may be a deciding factor whether I need to ask him mechilah.

However, I interpret mimicking as a snide way of saying that the person does not speak properly.

It depends on the context and the intentions of the mimic. When I quote my Rosh Yeshiva shlit”a (who hasa dsitinct way of speaking) to any past talmidim of his, I adopt his voice and speaking manner, and they love it. This is not a sign of disrespect at all, but a sign of endearment. I have, however, mimicked people in a derogatory fashion too. This would be assur.

I heard from a talmid that R’ Shloime Wolbe zt”l said about himself that he was never mevazeh a Talmid Chochom, except for mimicking, which he would do. Apparently, he was an excellent mimic.