Shmiat HaOzen literally means a “listening ear,” — in other words, to engage in attentive listening.

From our sources:
We learn about a listening ear from a story about Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik (1820-92). A man
approached the rabbi to ask if it would be permissible to fulfill the obligation of drinking four glasses at
the ritual Passover seder with milk instead of the usual wine. The rabbi asked the man if he was
considering making the switch because he was ill. No, the man told him, his health was not the issue.
Wine was just more expensive than he could afford.
The rabbi then gave the man twenty-five rubles. After the man left, the rabbi’s wife asked why he had
given the man so much when two or three rubles would have been enough to buy wine. The rabbi said,
“If that man was thinking of drinking milk at the seder, not only did he not have enough money for wine,
he didn’t have enough money for meat or other necessities of the seder either.”
What was the question? Could milk be used instead of wine for the ritual. Was that what [the rabbi]
heard? No – because he really listened, he was able to hear so much more.”
– Alan Morinis, With Heart in Mind

Food for thought:
How effectively do you really listen to what others say to you, reflect on it, and act accordingly?
What gets in the way of your being able to listen attentively to others? Do you find yourself planning the
next thing you want to say? Distracted by electronics? Wrapped up in your own thoughts? Does this
tend to happen more in one area of your life than in others?
What effect has a failure to listen attentively had on your life during the past year?

Source: Central Synagogue