QUESTION:
Often, during a review for a test, students may be tempted to influence the teacher’s choice of questions by saying things like, “We didn’t learn that!” or “We don’t have notes on that!” Sometimes these statements may be technically true—perhaps the students don’t have notes because they never took them when the material was taught. However, the intention behind such statements is to imply that the topic was never taught and therefore should not be included on the test. Is this kind of behavior permitted?
ANSWER:
The Torah explicitly commands, “Stay far from a false matter” (Shemos 23:7). The Chofetz Chaim, in his works Ahavas Chesed (Section 3, Chapter 7) and Sefas Tamim (Chapter 7), clarifies that this commandment is not limited to judges in a courtroom. Rather, it is a Torah prohibition that applies to everyone in all situations. If you deliberately make a false statement to your teacher, you are directly violating this commandment.
Even if there is no outright lie, but you choose your words to mislead your teacher, this falls under the category of Geneivas Da’as—deceiving someone into believing something false. This prohibition is discussed in Chullin 94a-b and Bava Metzia 59b-60b. The Sefer Yereim (Mitzvah 235) and the Ritva consider Geneivas Da’as to be a biblical prohibition, while the Smak holds it is a rabbinic prohibition. Regardless of the categorization, all authorities agree that this is a serious transgression. The bottom line is that you are tricking your teacher into acting on false information, which is clearly forbidden.
One might argue that there are times when bending the truth is permissible “for the sake of peace,” as discussed in Yevamos 65b-66a. However, as explained in Niv Sfasayim (II #2 and #5-6), this exception is extremely limited. It only applies when trying to prevent genuine conflict or to avoid causing significant emotional harm—not when trying to gain a personal advantage or to avoid something unpleasant. In this case, claiming “we didn’t learn that” to avoid certain test questions is for self-interest, not for peace, so the exception simply does not apply.
Some people mistakenly believe that writing something false is less serious than saying it. However, Rav Meir Dan Plotzki (in a letter cited in Kli Chemda) strongly rejects this idea, and other authorities—including the Maharsha (on Bava Basra 15a), Tosfos, Yad Ramah, Chedvas Yaakov, and Beis Ephraim—agree. The Halacha is clear: lying in writing is just as forbidden as lying verbally. In fact, some authorities consider written lies even more severe because they involve a deliberate action. Therefore, whether you say in class or if you were to write “that wasn’t in our notes,” the prohibition remains the same.
Telling your teacher—or even implying—that material was never taught when it actually was is prohibited. Depending on your words, this could be considered either lying or deception and none of the limited exceptions to the requirement of being honest would apply.
