...continued from previous week
1) It is permissible to lie in order to prevent another Jew from transgressing a sin.
For instance if one knows that a certain person is lax in the observance of a certain rabbinical prohibition, they may say to him “Rav so and so [who you know is respected by the person] ruled that this is forbidden”, even if the Rav never ruled on the matter. (Sefer Midvar Sheker Tirchak page 61 quoting the Orach Meisharim)
Likewise, if one is offered food whose kashrus is questionable, he/she may say ‘I am fasting today” in order to avoid eating the food. (Kaf HaChaim Siman 565)
2) A Torah teacher may lie and teach his students misinformation for the purpose of sharpening their minds (i.e. to have them figure out the errors) or testing them (i.e. to see if they will pick up on the fact that he taught them incorrectly), provided he will give them the correct information at the end. (Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah Siman 246:12)
3) Often, appeals are made in Shul for various Tzedaka organizations, whereby pledges are called out loud. Some people call out large sums of money, even though they have no intention of giving that large a sum, in order to encourage others in the Shul to match or beat that sum. Although their intentions are noble, doing so is prohibited and considered lying. (Shu”t Minchas Yitzchak Vol. 3 Siman 97)
4) If one is shipping a Sefer Torah via airmail, and wants to ensure that it isn’t thrown around and treated disrespectfully, he may write “fragile” or “glass” on the carton in order that it should be handled carefully and this is not considered lying. (See Shu”t Teshuvos V’Hanhagos Vol. 2 Siman 523. See extended Teshuva regarding if this is an acceptable way to transport a Sefer Torah in the first place)
5) If one does something that his/her mother asked them to do, and afterward his/her father is upset that it was done and asks “who told you to do this?”, he/she should lie rather than say that the mother asked that it be done and risk having the father get angry at her. (Sefer Chasidim Siman 336. He also writes there that if indeed you tell your father that your mother asked you to do it and he gets angry at her, it is as if you yourself got angry at your mother.)
6) Where appropriate, one may say to a groom that his bride is beautiful, even if isn’t the case, as to make the groom love his bride even more. The commentaries explain that “beautiful” can be referring to her actions and Middos as well as to her physical beauty, and thus it isn’t totally a lie.) (Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer Siman 65:1. See Bais Shmuel Os 2)
[Note: It is forbidden for a male to gaze at a bride (or any other woman for that matter) (Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer Siman 65:2)]
Likewise, if a person purchases an item, you may tell him that it is nice or that he got a good deal even if it isn’t the case. (See Talmud Kesubos 17a)
7) An extension of the prohibition to lie is the prohibition to cheat and be dishonest in business. It is prohibited to fool, mislead or deceive customers, clients or any other people in the process of conducting business or any other interpersonal matters. This is referred to in Halacha as “Geneivas Da’as“ (literally: stealing knowledge). The prohibition of Geneivas Da’as applies to men and women and to Jews and Aino-Yehudim alike. (See Talmud Chulin 94a-b, Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat Siman 228)
8) If one is selling merchandise that has a defect, they must notify the prospective buyer of this defect. (See Pele Yoetz, Topic: Sheker, Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 156:1 and Aruch HaShulchan 156:3)
Geneivas Akum, Stealing from an Aino Yehudi is 100% prohibited, and may even be a worse sin than stealing from a Jew. (See Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat Siman 348:2, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 182:1 and Ben Ish Chai Parshas Ki Seitzei.)
“If one steals from a Aini Yehudi, swears falsely and dies, his death is no atonement for his sin because of Chillul Hashem” (Tosefta Bava Kamma, 10)
Ta’us Akum, where a Aino Yehudi made a mistake in your favor, is where it may be permissible, if no Chilul Hashem is involved. A Rav should be consulted in each situation to determine the correct course of action. Keep in mind that making a Kiddush Hashem is one of the greatest things a Yid can do, and may even be the reason we are here on this world! It is definitely worth foregoing on money to be mekadesh Sheim Shomayim! If the opportunity arises, grab it!
New Topic next week B’Ezras Hashem
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