QUESTION: I told a negative story about “Rivkah”, that would normally be considered Lashon Harah (slander) if I had mentioned her name. The problem is, the person that I told the story to, responded with, “I know who you are talking about! It’s Rivkah, isn’t it?!” I did not want to violate the prohibition of Lashon Harah so I lied and said, “No, it actually was a man that I was talking about.” Was I allowed to lie in this circumstance?
ANSWER: This is an excellent question! I found a similar scenario cited in She’ailas Rav, Vol. I - Page 103 where Rav Chaim Kanievsky ZT”L responds that it is, “Quite possibly permitted,” and family members of Rav Chaim have informed me that whenever he would give that response, he meant that it wasn’t, “possibly” permitted, but that it was indeed permitted.
