Rav Menachem Mendel Morgensztern of Kotzk ZT”L (1787-1859), better known as the Kotzker Rebbe, was known for his absolute dedication to the Middah of Emes. He advocated not only for maintaining absolute truthfulness in everything that one does, but he also advocated strongly for the creation of an atmosphere of active intolerance for dishonesty. He felt that lying and dishonesty must be ridiculed and socially stigmatized.
The Kotzker Rebbe used to teach the following thought that he gleaned from a verse in this week’s Parsha. The verse says, “If your brother becomes low and his hand falters beside you, “VeHechezakta Bo” – you shall support him...” (Vayikrah 25:35). This verse can be read as follows: “If your brother becomes low [in his observance of Emes] and his hand falters beside you [and waivers because he becomes enamored with the false dreams of wealth and honor that he believes may come with a business lie he may be entertaining], you shall, “Mach Choizek” of him [which means in Yiddish that you shall ridicule him and is a pun on the word, “VeHechezakta”] until he comes back to the straight and narrow.
