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Save "Truth, Lies and everything in between
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Truth, Lies and everything in between

(א) וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר ה' אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר (ב) דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־כָּל־עֲדַ֧ת בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל וְאָמַרְתָּ֥ אֲלֵקֶ֖ם קְדֹשִׁ֣ים תִּהְי֑וּ כִּ֣י קָד֔וֹשׁ אֲנִ֖י ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃... (יא) לֹ֖א תִּגְנֹ֑בוּ וְלֹא־תְכַחֲשׁ֥וּ וְלֹֽא־תְשַׁקְּר֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ בַּעֲמִיתֽוֹ׃ (יב) וְלֹֽא־תִשָּׁבְע֥וּ בִשְׁמִ֖י לַשָּׁ֑קֶר וְחִלַּלְתָּ֛ אֶת־שֵׁ֥ם אֱלֹקֶ֖יךָ אֲנִ֥י ה'׃ (יג) לֹֽא־תַעֲשֹׁ֥ק אֶת־רֵֽעֲךָ֖ וְלֹ֣א תִגְזֹ֑ל לֹֽא־תָלִ֞ין פְּעֻלַּ֥ת שָׂכִ֛יר אִתְּךָ֖ עַד־בֹּֽקֶר׃ (יד) לֹא־תְקַלֵּ֣ל חֵרֵ֔שׁ וְלִפְנֵ֣י עִוֵּ֔ר לֹ֥א תִתֵּ֖ן מִכְשֹׁ֑ל וְיָרֵ֥אתָ מֵּאֱלֹקֶ֖יךָ אֲנִ֥י ה'... (לב) מִפְּנֵ֤י שֵׂיבָה֙ תָּק֔וּם וְהָדַרְתָּ֖ פְּנֵ֣י זָקֵ֑ן וְיָרֵ֥אתָ מֵּאֱלֹקֶ֖יךָ אֲנִ֥י ה' (פ) (לג) וְכִֽי־יָג֧וּר אִתְּךָ֛ גֵּ֖ר בְּאַרְצְכֶ֑ם לֹ֥א תוֹנ֖וּ אֹתֽוֹ׃ (לד) כְּאֶזְרָ֣ח מִכֶּם֩ יִהְיֶ֨ה לָכֶ֜ם הַגֵּ֣ר ׀ הַגָּ֣ר אִתְּכֶ֗ם וְאָהַבְתָּ֥ לוֹ֙ כָּמ֔וֹךָ כִּֽי־גֵרִ֥ים הֱיִיתֶ֖ם בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם אֲנִ֖י ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ (לה) לֹא־תַעֲשׂ֥וּ עָ֖וֶל בַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑ט בַּמִּדָּ֕ה בַּמִּשְׁקָ֖ל וּבַמְּשׂוּרָֽה׃ (לו) מֹ֧אזְנֵי צֶ֣דֶק אַבְנֵי־צֶ֗דֶק אֵ֥יפַת צֶ֛דֶק וְהִ֥ין צֶ֖דֶק יִהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֑ם אֲנִי֙ ה' אֱלֹֽקֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־הוֹצֵ֥אתִי אֶתְכֶ֖ם מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (לז) וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֤ם אֶת־כָּל־חֻקֹּתַי֙ וְאֶת־כָּל־מִשְׁפָּטַ֔י וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹתָ֑ם אֲנִ֖י ה' (פ)

(1) The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: (2) Speak to the whole Israelite community and say to them: You shall be holy, for I, the LORD your God, am holy. ... (11) You shall not steal; you shall not deal deceitfully [with one another]; you shall not lie to one another. (12) You shall not swear falsely by My name, profaning the name of your God: I am the LORD. (13) You shall not defraud your fellow. You shall not commit robbery. The wages of a laborer shall not remain with you until morning. (14) You shall not insult the deaf, or place a stumbling block before the blind. You shall fear your God: I am the LORD. ... (32) You shall rise before the aged and show deference to the old; you shall fear your God: I am the LORD. (33) When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not wrong him. (34) The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I the LORD am your God. (35) You shall not falsify measures of length, weight, or capacity. (36) You shall have an honest balance, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin. I the LORD am your God who freed you from the land of Egypt. (37) You shall faithfully observe all My laws and all My rules: I am the LORD.

(יד) וְכִֽי־תִמְכְּר֤וּ מִמְכָּר֙ לַעֲמִיתֶ֔ךָ א֥וֹ קָנֹ֖ה מִיַּ֣ד עֲמִיתֶ֑ךָ אַל־תּוֹנ֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ אֶת־אָחִֽיו׃ (טו) בְּמִסְפַּ֤ר שָׁנִים֙ אַחַ֣ר הַיּוֹבֵ֔ל תִּקְנֶ֖ה מֵאֵ֣ת עֲמִיתֶ֑ךָ בְּמִסְפַּ֥ר שְׁנֵֽי־תְבוּאֹ֖ת יִמְכָּר־לָֽךְ׃ (טז) לְפִ֣י ׀ רֹ֣ב הַשָּׁנִ֗ים תַּרְבֶּה֙ מִקְנָת֔וֹ וּלְפִי֙ מְעֹ֣ט הַשָּׁנִ֔ים תַּמְעִ֖יט מִקְנָת֑וֹ כִּ֚י מִסְפַּ֣ר תְּבוּאֹ֔ת ה֥וּא מֹכֵ֖ר לָֽךְ׃ (יז) וְלֹ֤א תוֹנוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־עֲמִית֔וֹ וְיָרֵ֖אתָ מֵֽאֱלֹקֶ֑יךָ כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃

(14) When you sell property to your neighbor, or buy any from your neighbor, you shall not wrong one another. (15) In buying from your neighbor, you shall deduct only for the number of years since the jubilee; and in selling to you, he shall charge you only for the remaining crop years: (16) the more such years, the higher the price you pay; the fewer such years, the lower the price; for what he is selling you is a number of harvests. (17) Do not wrong one another, but fear your God; for I the LORD am your God.

- What those two Levitical sources have in common? How do you imagine they are connected later? Check the bold words in Hebrew to begin thinking.

(ז) לֹ֥א תִשָּׂ֛א אֶת־שֵֽׁם־ה' אֱלֹקֶ֖יךָ לַשָּׁ֑וְא כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יְנַקֶּה֙ ה' אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־יִשָּׂ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ לַשָּֽׁוְא׃ ׃ (ס) (יג) לֹ֥֖א תִּֿרְצָֽ֖ח׃ (ס) לֹ֣֖א תִּֿנְאָֽ֑ף׃ (ס) לֹ֣֖א תִּֿגְנֹֽ֔ב׃ (ס) לֹֽא־תַעֲנֶ֥ה בְרֵעֲךָ֖ עֵ֥ד שָֽׁקֶר׃

(7) You shall not swear falsely by the name of the LORD your God; for the LORD will not clear one who swears falsely by His name. ... (13) You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

This source is found at ...

(ז) מִדְּבַר שֶׁקֶר תִּרְחָק וְנָקִי וְצַדִּיק אַל תַּהֲרֹג כִּי לֹא אַצְדִּיק רָשָׁע.

(7) Distance yourself from falsehood; and do not kill the innocent and righteous; for I will not exonerate the wicked.

(א) שלא לשמע טענת בעל דין שלא בפני בעל דין חברו - שלא ישמע הדין טענת האחד שלא בפני בעל דינו, שנאמר (שמות כג א) לא תשא שמע שוא. והטעם לפי שבני אדם ידברו דברי שוא שלא בפני בעל דינם, וצוה הדין על זה כדי שלא יכניס בנפשו כזביו של אחד מהם. וכן בא במכילתא (שם) שאזהרה זו של לא תשא וגו', על זה נאמרה. ועוד אמרו שם, שהיא אזהרה גם לבעל הדין שלא יטען גם הוא טענותיו לדין שלא בפני בעל דינו, ואפילו ירצה לשמע אותן הדין, ועל זה נאמר גם כן (שם ז) מדבר שקר תרחק. ועוד אמרו זכרונם לברכה (מכות כג א) שזה הלאו כולל מספר לשון הרע, ומקבלו, ומעיד עדות שקר.

(ב) שרש המצוה ידוע, כי השקר נתעב ונאלח בעיני הכל, אין דבר מאוס ממנו, והמארה והקללה בבית כל אוהביו, מפני שהשם יתברך אל אמת וכל אשר אתו אמת, ואין הברכה מצויה וחלה אלא במתדמים אליו במעשיהם, להיותם אמתיים כמו שהוא אל אמת, ולהיותם מרחמים כמו שידוע שהוא רחום, ולהיותם גומלי חסדים כמו שהוא רב החסד. אבל כל מי שמעשיו בהפך מדותיו הטובות והם בעלי השקר שהם בהפך מדותיו ממש, כמו כן תנוח עליהם לעולם מה שהוא הפך מדותיו, והפך מדת הברכה שהיא בו היא המארה והקללה, והפך השמחה והשלום והתענוג שהם אתו, הוא הדאגה והקטטה והצער, כל אלה (איוב כ כט) חלק אדם רשע מאלקים. ועל כן הזהירתנו התורה להרחיק מן השקר הרבה כמו שכתוב מדבר שקר תרחק. והנה הזכירה בו לשון רחוק לרב מאוסו מה שלא הזכירה כן בכל שאר האזהרות. ומצד הרחוק הזהירתנו שלא נטה אזנינו כלל לשום דבר שנחשב שהוא שקר, ואף על פי שאין אנו יודעין בברור שיהא אותו הדבר שקר, וכעין מה שאמרו זכרונם לברכה (חולין מד ב) הרחק מן הכעור ומן הדומה לו. ובאמרי מדות בהקדוש ברוך הוא, אני נמשך בדבר אחר דברי רבותינו ז''ל שיחסו אליו ברוך הוא שם מדות על צד המקבלים, אבל הוא ברוך הוא לגדלו ויחודו מצד עצמו אין ליחס אליו מדות, כי הוא וחכמתו וחפצו ויכלתו ומדותיו אחד בלי שום שתוף ופרוד בעולם.

(ג) מדיני המצוה, מה שאמרו זכרונם לברכה (שבועות ל ב) שכל דין שיודע בדין שהוא מרמה שחיב להסתלק ממנו, ולא יאמר אחתכנו ויהיה קולר תלוי בצואר העדים. והשבחים הגדולים שמשבחין חכמים בבקשת האמת והרחקת השקר בדין, ויתר רבי הפרטים, מבארים בסנהדרין ובמדרשים כמו כן (פכ''ה מה' סנהדרין)

(ד) ונוהגת בכל מקום ובכל זמן בזכרים אבל לא בנקבות, לפי שאינן דנות, ולכך אינן בכלל אזהרה זו שלא לקבל טענת בעל דין אחד שלא בפני בעל דינו, מכל מקום בכלל לאו זה הן שלא יטענו טענותם לדין שלא בפני בעל הדין. וכן מזהרות להרחיק מכל שקר כמו האנשים. והעובר עליה, הרי הוא כעובר על מצות מלך, אבל אין לוקין על לאו זה לפי שאין בו מעשה.

(1) Not to hear the claim of a litigant when it is not in front of his fellow litigant: That the judge not hear the claim of one, not in front of his adversary, as it is stated (Exodus 23:1), "You shall not raise a false report." And the reason is because people will speak idle words when not in front of their adversary. And the judge is commanded about this so that he not bring the untruths of one of them into his soul. And so does the Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 23:1 come [to tell us] that this warning of "You shall not raise, etc." is said about this. And they also said there that it is also a warning to the litigant, for him too, not to make his claims to the judge not in front of his adversary, and even if the judge wants to hear it. And about this, it is also said (Exodus 23:7), "From a false matter, distance yourself." And they, may their memory be blessed, also said (Makkot 23a) that this negative commandment includes telling evil speech, and accepting it, and giving false testimony.

(2) The root of this commandment is well-known, as falsehood is abominable and vile in the eyes of all. There is nothing more disgusting than it, and malediction and curse are in the house of its lovers. [This is] because God, may He be blessed, is a truthful God, and everything that is with Him is true. And blessing is only found and resting upon those that make themselves similar to Him in their deeds: to be truthful, like He is truthful; to be merciful, like He is merciful; and to be purveyors of kindness, like He is of great kindness. But [regarding] anyone whose deeds are the opposite of His good traits and are masters of falsehood - which is exactly the opposite of His traits - the opposite of His traits will similarly always rest upon them. And the opposite of the trait of blessing which is with Him is malediction and curse; and the opposite of joy and peace and enjoyment which are with Him is worry, strife and pain. All of these are the "evildoer’s portion from God" (Job 20:29). And therefore the Torah warned us to distance ourselves much form falsehood, as it is written, "From a false matter, distance yourself," And behold, it used an expression of distancing, due to it being very disgusting; something it did not mention in all the other warnings. And from the side of distancing, it warned us not to bend our ears at all to anything that is considered falsehood - and even if we do not know with certainly that it is a false matter. And [this is] similar to what they, may their memory be blessed, said (Chullin 44b), "Distance yourself from what is ugly, and from what is similar to it." And in my saying, "the traits of the Holy One, blessed be He," I am pulled after the words of our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed, who related to Him, may He be blessed, the name of traits according to the side of those receiving them (people). But to Him, may He be blessed, from His side - in His greatness and His uniqueness - one cannot ascribe traits. As He and His wisdom and His will and His power and His traits are [all] one, without any combination or division in the world.

(3) From the laws of the commandment - that which they, may their memory be blessed, said (Shevuot 30b) that any judge who knows about a case that it is rigged, that he is obligated to remove himself from it, and not say, "I will conclude it and the chain will be around the neck of the [lying] witnesses"; the great praises with which the sages praised the seeking of truth and the distancing of falsehood in judgment; and the rest of its many details - are elucidated in Sanhedrin and also in the Midrash (see Mishneh Torah, Laws of The Sanhedrin and the Penalties within their Jurisdiction 25).

(4) And it is practiced in every place and at all times by males, but not by females, since they do not judge. And hence they are not included in this warning, not to accept the claim of one litigant not in front of his adversary. Nonetheless, they are included in this negative commandment, that they should not make their claims to the judge not in front of the adversary. And so [too,] they are warned to distance themselves from all falsehood, like men. And behold, one who transgresses it is like he transgresses the commandment of the King. But we do not administer lashes for this negative commandment, as there is no act [involved] in it.

Notice how the Sefer HaChinuch deals with Ex 23:7

- How serious is telling the truth, here? Why?

- To whom does it initially seems to apply, and to whom it actually applies?

- What is one expected to distance oneself from? Just lying?

- How many talmudic sources does the author bring to the table?

(א) מִזְמ֗וֹר לְדָ֫וִ֥ד ה' מִי־יָג֣וּר בְּאָהֳלֶ֑ךָ מִֽי־יִ֝שְׁכֹּ֗ן בְּהַ֣ר קָדְשֶֽׁךָ׃ (ב) הוֹלֵ֣ךְ תָּ֭מִים וּפֹעֵ֥ל צֶ֑דֶק וְדֹבֵ֥ר אֱ֝מֶ֗ת בִּלְבָבֽוֹ׃ (ג) לֹֽא־רָגַ֨ל ׀ עַל־לְשֹׁנ֗וֹ לֹא־עָשָׂ֣ה לְרֵעֵ֣הוּ רָעָ֑ה וְ֝חֶרְפָּ֗ה לֹא־נָשָׂ֥א עַל־קְרֹֽבוֹ׃ (ד) נִבְזֶ֤ה ׀ בְּֽעֵ֘ינָ֤יו נִמְאָ֗ס וְאֶת־יִרְאֵ֣י ה' יְכַבֵּ֑ד נִשְׁבַּ֥ע לְ֝הָרַ֗ע וְלֹ֣א יָמִֽר׃ (ה) כַּסְפּ֤וֹ ׀ לֹא־נָתַ֣ן בְּנֶשֶׁךְ֮ וְשֹׁ֥חַד עַל־נָקִ֗י לֹ֥א לָ֫קָ֥ח עֹֽשֵׂה־אֵ֑לֶּה לֹ֖א יִמּ֣וֹט לְעוֹלָֽם׃

(1) A psalm of David. LORD, who may sojourn in Your tent, who may dwell on Your holy mountain? (2) He who lives without blame, who does what is right, and in his heart acknowledges the truth; (3) whose tongue is not given to evil; who has never done harm to his fellow, or borne reproach for [his acts toward] his neighbor; (4) for whom a contemptible man is abhorrent, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who stands by his oath even to his hurt; (5) who has never lent money at interest, or accepted a bribe against the innocent. The man who acts thus shall never be shaken.

רבן שמעון בן גמליאל אומר, על שלשה דברים העולם עומד, על הדין ועל האמת ועל השלום, שנאמר (זכריה ח) אמת ומשפט שלום שפטו בשעריכם .

Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel used to say: On three things does the world stand: On justice, and on truth, and on peace, As it is said: “Judge with truth, justice, and peace in your gates.”

ומ"ש תיו אמר רב תיו תחיה תיו תמות ושמואל אמר תמה זכות אבות ורבי יוחנן אמר תחון זכות אבות ור"ל אמר תיו סוף חותמו של הקב"ה דאמר רבי חנינא חותמו של הקב"ה אמת (אמר) ר' שמואל בר נחמני אלו בני אדם שקיימו את התור' כולה מאלף ועד תיו
The Gemara asks further: And what is different about the letter tav,that it was inscribed on the foreheads of the righteous? Rav said: Tav is the first letter of the word tiḥye, you shall live, indicating that the righteous shall live. Tav is also the first letter of the word tamut, you shall die, indicating that the wicked shall die. And Shmuel said: The letter tav is the first letter of the word tama, ceased, indicating that the merit of the Patriarchs has ceased and will not help the wicked. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The letter tav is the first letter of the word taḥon, will have mercy, indicating that due to the merit of the Patriarchs God will have mercy on the righteous. And Reish Lakish said: The letter tav is the last letter of the seal of the Holy One, Blessed be He, as Rabbi Ḥanina said: The seal of the Holy One, Blessed be He, is truth [emet], which ends with the letter tav. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: The letter tav teaches that these are people who observed the entire Torah from alef through tav.

(קפד) החלק הז' - מי שמתעה את חברו לאמר כי עשה עמו טובה או דיבר טוב עליו ולא עשה. אמרו רבותינו זכרונם לברכה אסור לגנוב דעת הבריות. והנה החטא הזה חמור אצל חכמי ישראל יותר מגזל יען וביען כי שפת שקר אשמה רבה. ונתחייבנו על גדרי האמת כי הוא מיסודי הנפש:

The seventh aspect - one who misleads his fellow, saying that he did something good for him, or spoke well of him, and didn't do it. Our sages of blessed memory said that it is forbidden to lie to [lit. steal the awareness of] people. And behold this sin is even more serious according to the sages of Israel than robbery, since lying lips are a grievous guilt. And we are obligated [to stay within] the parameters of truth, since truth is one of the foundations of the soul.

(יח) יֵ֣שׁ בּ֭וֹטֶה כְּמַדְקְר֣וֹת חָ֑רֶב וּלְשׁ֖וֹן חֲכָמִ֣ים מַרְפֵּֽא׃ (יט) שְֽׂפַת־אֱ֭מֶת תִּכּ֣וֹן לָעַ֑ד וְעַד־אַ֝רְגִּ֗יעָה לְשׁ֣וֹן שָֽׁקֶר׃ (כ) מִ֭רְמָה בְּלֶב־חֹ֣רְשֵׁי רָ֑ע וּֽלְיֹעֲצֵ֖י שָׁל֣וֹם שִׂמְחָֽה׃ (כא) לֹא־יְאֻנֶּ֣ה לַצַּדִּ֣יק כָּל־אָ֑וֶן וּ֝רְשָׁעִ֗ים מָ֣לְאוּ רָֽע׃ (כב) תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת ה' שִׂפְתֵי־שָׁ֑קֶר וְעֹשֵׂ֖י אֱמוּנָ֣ה רְצוֹנֽוֹ׃ (כג) אָדָ֣ם עָ֭רוּם כֹּ֣סֶה דָּ֑עַת וְלֵ֥ב כְּ֝סִילִ֗ים יִקְרָ֥א אִוֶּֽלֶת׃

(18) There is blunt talk like sword-thrusts, But the speech of the wise is healing. (19) Truthful speech abides forever, A lying tongue for but a moment. (20) Deceit is in the minds of those who plot evil; For those who plan good there is joy. (21) No harm befalls the righteous, But the wicked have their fill of misfortune. (22) Lying speech is an abomination to ad-nai, but those who act faithfully please Him. (23) A clever man conceals what he knows, but the mind of dullards cries out folly.

But then...
(א) לְדָוִ֗ד בְּשַׁנּוֹת֣וֹ אֶת־טַ֭עְמוֹ לִפְנֵ֣י אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ וַֽ֝יְגָרֲשֵׁ֗הוּ וַיֵּלַֽךְ׃ (ב) אֲבָרֲכָ֣ה אֶת־ה' בְּכָל־עֵ֑ת תָּ֝מִ֗יד תְּֽהִלָּת֥וֹ בְּפִֽי׃ (ג) בַּ֭ה' תִּתְהַלֵּ֣ל נַפְשִׁ֑י יִשְׁמְע֖וּ עֲנָוִ֣ים וְיִשְׂמָֽחוּ׃ (ד) גַּדְּל֣וּ לַה' אִתִּ֑י וּנְרוֹמְמָ֖ה שְׁמ֣וֹ יַחְדָּֽו׃ (ה) דָּרַ֣שְׁתִּי אֶת־ה' וְעָנָ֑נִי וּמִכָּל־מְ֝גוּרוֹתַ֗י הִצִּילָֽנִי׃ (ו) הִבִּ֣יטוּ אֵלָ֣יו וְנָהָ֑רוּ וּ֝פְנֵיהֶ֗ם אַל־יֶחְפָּֽרוּ׃ (ז) זֶ֤ה עָנִ֣י קָ֭רָא וַה' שָׁמֵ֑עַ וּמִכָּל־צָ֝רוֹתָ֗יו הוֹשִׁיעֽוֹ׃ (ח) חֹנֶ֤ה מַלְאַךְ־ה' סָ֘בִ֤יב לִֽירֵאָ֗יו וַֽיְחַלְּצֵֽם׃ (ט) טַעֲמ֣וּ וּ֭רְאוּ כִּי־ט֣וֹב ה' אַֽשְׁרֵ֥י הַ֝גֶּ֗בֶר יֶחֱסֶה־בּֽוֹ׃ (י) יְר֣אוּ אֶת־ה' קְדֹשָׁ֑יו כִּי־אֵ֥ין מַ֝חְס֗וֹר לִירֵאָֽיו׃ (יא) כְּ֭פִירִים רָשׁ֣וּ וְרָעֵ֑בוּ וְדֹרְשֵׁ֥י ה' לֹא־יַחְסְר֥וּ כָל־טֽוֹב׃ (יב) לְֽכוּ־בָ֭נִים שִׁמְעוּ־לִ֑י יִֽרְאַ֥ת ה' אֲלַמֶּדְכֶֽם׃ (יג) מִֽי־הָ֭אִישׁ הֶחָפֵ֣ץ חַיִּ֑ים אֹהֵ֥ב יָ֝מִ֗ים לִרְא֥וֹת טֽוֹב׃ (יד) נְצֹ֣ר לְשׁוֹנְךָ֣ מֵרָ֑ע וּ֝שְׂפָתֶ֗יךָ מִדַּבֵּ֥ר מִרְמָֽה׃ (טו) ס֣וּר מֵ֭רָע וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֑וֹב בַּקֵּ֖שׁ שָׁל֣וֹם וְרָדְפֵֽהוּ׃ (טז) עֵינֵ֣י ה' אֶל־צַדִּיקִ֑ים וְ֝אָזְנָ֗יו אֶל־שַׁוְעָתָֽם׃ (יז) פְּנֵ֣י ה' בְּעֹ֣שֵׂי רָ֑ע לְהַכְרִ֖ית מֵאֶ֣רֶץ זִכְרָֽם׃ (יח) צָעֲק֣וּ וַה' שָׁמֵ֑עַ וּמִכָּל־צָ֝רוֹתָ֗ם הִצִּילָֽם׃ (יט) קָר֣וֹב ה' לְנִשְׁבְּרֵי־לֵ֑ב וְֽאֶת־דַּכְּאֵי־ר֥וּחַ יוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃ (כ) רַ֭בּוֹת רָע֣וֹת צַדִּ֑יק וּ֝מִכֻּלָּ֗ם יַצִּילֶ֥נּוּ ה' (כא) שֹׁמֵ֥ר כָּל־עַצְמוֹתָ֑יו אַחַ֥ת מֵ֝הֵ֗נָּה לֹ֣א נִשְׁבָּֽרָה׃ (כב) תְּמוֹתֵ֣ת רָשָׁ֣ע רָעָ֑ה וְשֹׂנְאֵ֖י צַדִּ֣יק יֶאְשָֽׁמוּ׃ (כג) פּוֹדֶ֣ה ה' נֶ֣פֶשׁ עֲבָדָ֑יו וְלֹ֥א יֶ֝אְשְׁמ֗וּ כָּֽל־הַחֹסִ֥ים בּֽוֹ׃

(1) Of David, when he feigned madness in the presence of Abimelech, who turned him out, and he left. (2) I bless the LORD at all times; praise of Him is ever in my mouth. (3) I glory in the LORD; let the lowly hear it and rejoice. (4) Exalt the LORD with me; let us extol His name together. (5) I turned to the LORD, and He answered me; He saved me from all my terrors. (6) Men look to Him and are radiant; let their faces not be downcast. (7) Here was a lowly man who called, and the LORD listened, and delivered him from all his troubles. (8) The angel of the LORD camps around those who fear Him and rescues them. (9) Taste and see how good the LORD is; happy the man who takes refuge in Him! (10) Fear the LORD, you His consecrated ones, for those who fear Him lack nothing. (11) Lions have been reduced to starvation, but those who turn to the LORD shall not lack any good. (12) Come, my sons, listen to me; I will teach you what it is to fear the LORD. (13) Who is the man who is eager for life, who desires years of good fortune? (14) Guard your tongue from evil, your lips from deceitful speech. (15) Shun evil and do good, seek amity and pursue it. (16) The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, His ears attentive to their cry. (17) The face of the LORD is set against evildoers, to erase their names from the earth. (18) They cry out, and the LORD hears, and saves them from all their troubles. (19) The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; those crushed in spirit He delivers. (20) Though the misfortunes of the righteous be many, the LORD will save him from them all, (21) Keeping all his bones intact, not one of them being broken. (22) One misfortune is the deathblow of the wicked; the foes of the righteous shall be ruined. (23) The LORD redeems the life of His servants; all who take refuge in Him shall not be ruined.

(קמב) צִדְקָתְךָ֣ צֶ֣דֶק לְעוֹלָ֑ם וְֽתוֹרָתְךָ֥ אֱמֶֽת׃

(142) Your righteousness is eternal; Your Torah is Truth.

- What is the introduction to the Psalm? What is the story behind? Is there a tension between the message of the psalm and its introduction?

(א) וַיָּ֖קָם וַיֵּלַ֑ךְ וִיהוֹנָתָ֖ן בָּ֥א הָעִֽיר׃ (ב) וַיָּבֹ֤א דָוִד֙ נֹ֔בֶה אֶל־אֲחִימֶ֖לֶךְ הַכֹּהֵ֑ן וַיֶּחֱרַ֨ד אֲחִימֶ֜לֶךְ לִקְרַ֣את דָּוִ֗ד וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ מַדּ֤וּעַ אַתָּה֙ לְבַדֶּ֔ךָ וְאִ֖ישׁ אֵ֥ין אִתָּֽךְ׃ (ג) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד לַאֲחִימֶ֣לֶךְ הַכֹּהֵ֗ן הַמֶּלֶךְ֮ צִוַּ֣נִי דָבָר֒ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י אִ֣ישׁ אַל־יֵ֧דַע מְא֛וּמָה אֶת־הַדָּבָ֛ר אֲשֶׁר־אָנֹכִ֥י שֹׁלֵֽחֲךָ֖ וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוִּיתִ֑ךָ וְאֶת־הַנְּעָרִ֣ים יוֹדַ֔עְתִּי אֶל־מְק֥וֹם פְּלֹנִ֖י אַלְמוֹנִֽי׃ (ד) וְעַתָּ֗ה מַה־יֵּ֧שׁ תַּֽחַת־יָדְךָ֛ חֲמִשָּׁה־לֶ֖חֶם תְּנָ֣ה בְיָדִ֑י א֖וֹ הַנִּמְצָֽא׃ (ה) וַיַּ֨עַן הַכֹּהֵ֤ן אֶת־דָּוִד֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר אֵֽין־לֶ֥חֶם חֹ֖ל אֶל־תַּ֣חַת יָדִ֑י כִּֽי־אִם־לֶ֤חֶם קֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ יֵ֔שׁ אִם־נִשְׁמְר֥וּ הַנְּעָרִ֖ים אַ֥ךְ מֵאִשָּֽׁה׃ (פ) (ו) וַיַּעַן֩ דָּוִ֨ד אֶת־הַכֹּהֵ֜ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ כִּ֣י אִם־אִשָּׁ֤ה עֲצֻֽרָה־לָ֙נוּ֙ כִּתְמ֣וֹל שִׁלְשֹׁ֔ם בְּצֵאתִ֕י וַיִּהְי֥וּ כְלֵֽי־הַנְּעָרִ֖ים קֹ֑דֶשׁ וְהוּא֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ חֹ֔ל וְאַ֕ף כִּ֥י הַיּ֖וֹם יִקְדַּ֥שׁ בַּכֶּֽלִי׃ (ז) וַיִּתֶּן־ל֥וֹ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן קֹ֑דֶשׁ כִּי֩ לֹא־הָ֨יָה שָׁ֜ם לֶ֗חֶם כִּֽי־אִם־לֶ֤חֶם הַפָּנִים֙ הַמּֽוּסָרִים֙ מִלִּפְנֵ֣י ה' לָשׂוּם֙ לֶ֣חֶם חֹ֔ם בְּי֖וֹם הִלָּקְחֽוֹ׃ (ח) וְשָׁ֡ם אִישׁ֩ מֵעַבְדֵ֨י שָׁא֜וּל בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא נֶעְצָר֙ לִפְנֵ֣י ה' וּשְׁמ֖וֹ דֹּאֵ֣ג הָאֲדֹמִ֑י אַבִּ֥יר הָרֹעִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לְשָׁאֽוּל׃ (ט) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ לַאֲחִימֶ֔לֶךְ וְאִ֛ין יֶשׁ־פֹּ֥ה תַֽחַת־יָדְךָ֖ חֲנִ֣ית אוֹ־חָ֑רֶב כִּ֣י גַם־חַרְבִּ֤י וְגַם־כֵּלַי֙ לֹֽא־לָקַ֣חְתִּי בְיָדִ֔י כִּֽי־הָיָ֥ה דְבַר־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ נָחֽוּץ׃ (ס) (י) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַכֹּהֵ֗ן חֶרֶב֩ גָּלְיָ֨ת הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֜י אֲשֶׁר־הִכִּ֣יתָ ׀ בְּעֵ֣מֶק הָאֵלָ֗ה הִנֵּה־הִ֞יא לוּטָ֣ה בַשִּׂמְלָה֮ אַחֲרֵ֣י הָאֵפוֹד֒ אִם־אֹתָ֤הּ תִּֽקַּח־לְךָ֙ קָ֔ח כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין אַחֶ֛רֶת זוּלָתָ֖הּ בָּזֶ֑ה וַיֹּ֧אמֶר דָּוִ֛ד אֵ֥ין כָּמ֖וֹהָ תְּנֶ֥נָּה לִּֽי׃ (יא) וַיָּ֣קָם דָּוִ֔ד וַיִּבְרַ֥ח בַּיּוֹם־הַה֖וּא מִפְּנֵ֣י שָׁא֑וּל וַיָּבֹ֕א אֶל־אָכִ֖ישׁ מֶ֥לֶךְ גַּֽת׃ (יב) וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ עַבְדֵ֤י אָכִישׁ֙ אֵלָ֔יו הֲלוֹא־זֶ֥ה דָוִ֖ד מֶ֣לֶךְ הָאָ֑רֶץ הֲל֣וֹא לָזֶ֗ה יַעֲנ֤וּ בַמְּחֹלוֹת֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִכָּ֤ה שָׁאוּל֙ באלפו [בַּאֲלָפָ֔יו] וְדָוִ֖ד ברבבתו [בְּרִבְבֹתָֽיו׃] (יג) וַיָּ֧שֶׂם דָּוִ֛ד אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה בִּלְבָב֑וֹ וַיִּרָ֣א מְאֹ֔ד מִפְּנֵ֖י אָכִ֥ישׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־גַּֽת׃ (יד) וַיְשַׁנּ֤וֹ אֶת־טַעְמוֹ֙ בְּעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔ם וַיִּתְהֹלֵ֖ל בְּיָדָ֑ם ויתו [וַיְתָיו֙] עַל־דַּלְת֣וֹת הַשַּׁ֔עַר וַיּ֥וֹרֶד רִיר֖וֹ אֶל־זְקָנֽוֹ׃ (טו) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אָכִ֖ישׁ אֶל־עֲבָדָ֑יו הִנֵּ֤ה תִרְאוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ מִשְׁתַּגֵּ֔עַ לָ֛מָּה תָּבִ֥יאוּ אֹת֖וֹ אֵלָֽי׃ (טז) חֲסַ֤ר מְשֻׁגָּעִים֙ אָ֔נִי כִּי־הֲבֵאתֶ֣ם אֶת־זֶ֔ה לְהִשְׁתַּגֵּ֖עַ עָלָ֑י הֲזֶ֖ה יָב֥וֹא אֶל־בֵּיתִֽי׃ (ס) (א) וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ דָּוִד֙ מִשָּׁ֔ם וַיִּמָּלֵ֖ט אֶל־מְעָרַ֣ת עֲדֻלָּ֑ם וַיִּשְׁמְע֤וּ אֶחָיו֙ וְכָל־בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֔יו וַיֵּרְד֥וּ אֵלָ֖יו שָֽׁמָּה׃ (ב) וַיִּֽתְקַבְּצ֣וּ אֵ֠לָיו כָּל־אִ֨ישׁ מָצ֜וֹק וְכָל־אִ֨ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־ל֤וֹ נֹשֶׁא֙ וְכָל־אִ֣ישׁ מַר־נֶ֔פֶשׁ וַיְהִ֥י עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם לְשָׂ֑ר וַיִּהְי֣וּ עִמּ֔וֹ כְּאַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת אִֽישׁ׃
(1) David then went his way, and Jonathan returned to the town. (2) David went to the priest Ahimelech at Nob. Ahimelech came out in alarm to meet David, and he said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one with you?” (3) David answered the priest Ahimelech, “The king has ordered me on a mission, and he said to me, ‘No one must know anything about the mission on which I am sending you and for which I have given you orders.’ So I have directed [my] young men to such and such a place. (4) Now then, what have you got on hand? Any loaves of bread? Let me have them—or whatever is available.” (5) The priest answered David, “I have no ordinary bread on hand; there is only consecrated bread—provided the young men have kept away from women.” (6) In reply to the priest, David said, “I assure you that women have been kept from us, as always. Whenever I went on a mission, even if the journey was a common one, the vessels of the young men were consecrated; all the more then may consecrated food be put into their vessels today.” (7) So the priest gave him consecrated bread, because there was none there except the bread of display, which had been removed from the presence of the LORD, to be replaced by warm bread as soon as it was taken away.— (8) Now one of Saul’s officials was there that day, detained before the LORD; his name was Doeg the Edomite, Saul’s chief herdsman. (9) David said to Ahimelech, “Haven’t you got a spear or sword on hand? I didn’t take my sword or any of my weapons with me, because the king’s mission was urgent.” (10) The priest said, “There is the sword of Goliath the Philistine whom you slew in the valley of Elah; it is over there, wrapped in a cloth, behind the ephod. If you want to take that one, take it, for there is none here but that one.” David replied, “There is none like it; give it to me.” (11) That day David continued on his flight from Saul and he came to King Achish of Gath. (12) The courtiers of Achish said to him, “Why, that’s David, king of the land! That’s the one of whom they sing as they dance: Saul has slain his thousands; David, his tens of thousands.” (13) These words worried David and he became very much afraid of King Achish of Gath. (14) So he concealed his good sense from them; he feigned madness for their benefit. He scratched marks on the doors of the gate and let his saliva run down his beard. (15) And Achish said to his courtiers, “You see the man is raving; why bring him to me? (16) Do I lack madmen that you have brought this fellow to rave for me? Should this fellow enter my house?” (1) David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam; and when his brothers and all his father’s house heard, they joined him down there. (2) Everyone who was in straits and everyone who was in debt and everyone who was desperate joined him, and he became their leader; there were about four hundred men with him.
(י) וַֽה' אֱלֹקִים֙ אֱמֶ֔ת הֽוּא־אֱלֹקִ֥ים חַיִּ֖ים וּמֶ֣לֶךְ עוֹלָ֑ם מִקִּצְפּוֹ֙ תִּרְעַ֣שׁ הָאָ֔רֶץ וְלֹֽא־יָכִ֥לוּ גוֹיִ֖ם זַעְמֽוֹ׃ (ס)

(10) And Ad-nai is God of Truth: He is a living God, the everlasting King. At His wrath, the earth quakes, And nations cannot endure His rage.

שלשה הקדוש ברוך הוא שונאן המדבר א' בפה ואחד בלב והיודע עדות בחבירו ואינו מעיד לו והרואה דבר ערוה בחבירו ומעיד בו יחידי כי הא דטוביה חטא ואתא זיגוד לחודיה ואסהיד ביה

The Holy One, Blessed be He, hates three people: One who says one statement with his mouth and means another in his heart; one who knows testimony about another person and does not testify on his behalf; and one who observes a licentious matter performed by another person and testifies against him alone. His testimony is meaningless, as he is the only witness; consequently, he merely gives the individual a bad reputation.

Now we are ready to think what stories in the Tanach that are in tension with the idea of telling the truth at all times. Get set and think: who lied in Genesis alone?

[there are at least 15 possibilities -

3:8 - Adam and Chava

4:9 - Kayin

12:10-20; 20:1-18; 26:7-11 - Sister-wife narratives

18:1-15 - Sarah laughing

27:1-45 - Yaakov, Rivkah and the blessing

29:21-27 - Lavan exchanges his daughters

31:20 - Yaakov flees Lavan

31:34-35 - Rachel and the teraphim

34:13-25 - the brothers of Dina and Shechem

37:31-34 - the brothers deceive Yaakov with Yosef's coat

38:14-19 - Yehudah and Tamar

42:8-14 - Yosef deceives brothers, and all the way up to chapter 44

50:15-22 - Brothers deceive Yosef ]

(א) לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ ׀ לִבְנֵי־קֹ֬רַח מִזְמֽוֹר׃ (ב) רָצִ֣יתָ ה' אַרְצֶ֑ךָ שַׁ֝֗בְתָּ שבות [שְׁבִ֣ית] יַעֲקֹֽב׃ (ג) נָ֭שָׂאתָ עֲוֺ֣ן עַמֶּ֑ךָ כִּסִּ֖יתָ כָל־חַטָּאתָ֣ם סֶֽלָה׃ (ד) אָסַ֥פְתָּ כָל־עֶבְרָתֶ֑ךָ הֱ֝שִׁיב֗וֹתָ מֵחֲר֥וֹן אַפֶּֽךָ׃ (ה) שׁ֭וּבֵנוּ אֱלֹקֵ֣י יִשְׁעֵ֑נוּ וְהָפֵ֖ר כַּֽעַסְךָ֣ עִמָּֽנוּ׃ (ו) הַלְעוֹלָ֥ם תֶּֽאֱנַף־בָּ֑נוּ תִּמְשֹׁ֥ךְ אַ֝פְּךָ֗ לְדֹ֣ר וָדֹֽר׃ (ז) הֲֽלֹא־אַ֭תָּה תָּשׁ֣וּב תְּחַיֵּ֑נוּ וְ֝עַמְּךָ֗ יִשְׂמְחוּ־בָֽךְ׃ (ח) הַרְאֵ֣נוּ ה' חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ וְ֝יֶשְׁעֲךָ֗ תִּתֶּן־לָֽנוּ׃ (ט) אֶשְׁמְעָ֗ה מַה־יְדַבֵּר֮ הָאֵ֪ל ׀ ה' כִּ֤י ׀ יְדַבֵּ֬ר שָׁל֗וֹם אֶל־עַמּ֥וֹ וְאֶל־חֲסִידָ֑יו וְֽאַל־יָשׁ֥וּבוּ לְכִסְלָֽה׃ (י) אַ֤ךְ ׀ קָר֣וֹב לִירֵאָ֣יו יִשְׁע֑וֹ לִשְׁכֹּ֖ן כָּב֣וֹד בְּאַרְצֵֽנוּ׃ (יא) חֶֽסֶד־וֶאֱמֶ֥ת נִפְגָּ֑שׁוּ צֶ֖דֶק וְשָׁל֣וֹם נָשָֽׁקוּ׃ (יב) אֱ֭מֶת מֵאֶ֣רֶץ תִּצְמָ֑ח וְ֝צֶ֗דֶק מִשָּׁמַ֥יִם נִשְׁקָֽף׃ (יג) גַּם־ה' יִתֵּ֣ן הַטּ֑וֹב וְ֝אַרְצֵ֗נוּ תִּתֵּ֥ן יְבוּלָֽהּ׃ (יד) צֶ֭דֶק לְפָנָ֣יו יְהַלֵּ֑ךְ וְיָשֵׂ֖ם לְדֶ֣רֶךְ פְּעָמָֽיו׃

(1) For the leader. Of the Korahites. A psalm. (2) O LORD, You will favor Your land, restore Jacob’s fortune; (3) You will forgive Your people’s iniquity, pardon all their sins; selah (4) You will withdraw all Your anger, turn away from Your rage. (5) Turn again, O God, our helper, revoke Your displeasure with us. (6) Will You be angry with us forever, prolong Your wrath for all generations? (7) Surely You will revive us again, so that Your people may rejoice in You. (8) Show us, O LORD, Your faithfulness; grant us Your deliverance. (9) Let me hear what God, the LORD, will speak; He will promise well-being to His people, His faithful ones; may they not turn to folly. (10) His help is very near those who fear Him, to make His glory dwell in our land. (11) Kindness and truth meet; justice and peace kiss. (12) Truth springs up from the earth; justice looks down from heaven. (13) The LORD also bestows His bounty; our land yields its produce. (14) Justice goes before Him as He sets out on His way.

(ה) אמר רבי סימון: בשעה שבא הקב"ה לבראת את אדם הראשון, נעשו מלאכי השרת כיתים כיתים, וחבורות חבורות, מהם אומרים: אל יברא, ומהם אומרים: יברא, הדא הוא דכתיב (תהלים פה): חסד ואמת נפגשו צדק ושלום נשקו. חסד אומר: יברא, שהוא גומל חסדים. ואמת אומר: אל יברא, שכולו שקרים. צדק אומר: יברא, שהוא עושה צדקות. שלום אומר: אל יברא, דכוליה קטטה. מה עשה הקדוש ברוך הוא? נטל אמת והשליכו לארץ, הדא הוא דכתיב (דניאל ח): ותשלך אמת ארצה. אמרו מלאכי השרת לפני הקב"ה: רבון העולמים! מה אתה מבזה תכסיס אלטיכסייה שלך? תעלה אמת מן הארץ, הדא הוא דכתיב (תהלים פה): אמת מארץ תצמח.

(5) Rabbi Simon said: At the time when the Holy Blessed One came to create the first man, the ministering angels formed themselves into groups, some saying 'man should not be created' and some saying 'man should be created.' As it says: "Kindness and Truth met; Justice and Peace kissed" (Psalms 85:11). Kindness said: man should be created because he does acts of kindness, and Truth said: man should not be created, because he is all lies. Justice said: man should be created because he does just acts, and Peace said: man should not be created because he is all quarrels. What did the Holy Blessed One do? God took Truth and threw him to the ground, as it says: "And Truth was thrown to the ground" (Daniel 8:12). The ministering angels said before the Blessed Holy One: Master of the Universe: why are You disgracing the chief of your court ceremonies - bring Truth back from the ground! As it says: "Truth will grow from the ground" (Psalms 85:12).

(יב) וַתִּצְחַ֥ק שָׂרָ֖ה בְּקִרְבָּ֣הּ לֵאמֹ֑ר אַחֲרֵ֤י בְלֹתִי֙ הָֽיְתָה־לִּ֣י עֶדְנָ֔ה וַֽאדושם זָקֵֽן׃ (יג) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ה' אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֑ם לָ֣מָּה זֶּה֩ צָחֲקָ֨ה שָׂרָ֜ה לֵאמֹ֗ר הַאַ֥ף אֻמְנָ֛ם אֵלֵ֖ד וַאֲנִ֥י זָקַֽנְתִּי׃

(12) And Sarah laughed within herself, saying: ‘After I have grown old shall I have soft skin, and my husband is old?’ (13) And G-d said to Abraham: ‘Why does Sarah laugh, saying: Shall I indeed give birth, I am old?

וא"ר אילעא משום רבי אלעזר בר' שמעון מותר לו לאדם לשנות בדבר השלום שנאמר (בראשית נ, טז) אביך צוה וגו כה תאמרו ליוסף אנא שא נא וגו' ר' נתן אומר מצוה שנאמר (שמואל א טז, ב) ויאמר שמואל איך אלך ושמע שאול והרגני וגו' דבי רבי ישמעאל תנא גדול השלום שאף הקדוש ברוך הוא שינה בו דמעיקרא כתיב (בראשית יח, יב) ואדוני זקן ולבסוף כתיב ואני זקנתי:
And Rabbi Ile’a further said in the name of Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon: It is permitted for a person to depart from the truth in a matter that will bring peace, as it is stated: “Your father commanded before he died, saying: So you shall say to Joseph: Please pardon your brothers’ crime, etc.” (Genesis 50:16–17). Jacob never issued this command, but his sons falsely attributed this statement to him in order to preserve peace between them and Joseph. Rabbi Natan says: It is a mitzva to depart from the truth in order to preserve peace, as it is stated: “And Samuel said: How can I go, and Saul will hear and kill me” (I Samuel 16:2). God responded in the next verse that Samuel should say he went to sacrifice an offering, indicating that God commands one to lie in order to preserve peace. It was taught in the school of Rabbi Yishmael: Great is peace, as even the Holy One, Blessed be He, departed from the truth for it. As, initially it is written that Sarah said of Abraham: “And my lord is old” (Genesis 18:12), and in the end it is written that God told Abraham that Sarah said: “And I am old” (Genesis 18:13). God adjusted Sarah’s words in order to spare Abraham hurt feelings that might lead Abraham and Sarah to quarrel.

ואדוני זקן - שרה אמרה לשון בזוי וכשגלה הקב"ה הדבר לאברהם כתיב למה זה צחקה שרה וגו' ואני זקנתי ושינה הדבר מפני השלום:

"And my husband is old!" - Sarah used degrading speech. And when the Holy One, Blessed is He, revealed the matter to Abraham, it is written "Why did Sarah laugh?... and I am old!" He altered the truth for the sake of peace.

נודרין להרגין, ולחרמין, ולמוכסין, שהיא תרומה, אף על פי שאינה תרומה; שהן שלבית המלך, אף על פי שאינן שלבית המלך.

One may vow to murderers and thieves and [self-appointed] tax collectors that [something] is terumah (the tithe to the cohen), even if it isn't terumah; [or] that they are property of the king, even if they aren't property of the king.

What are the parameters of truth telling, in these cases, according to the Talmud? Why?

דאמר רב יהודה אמר שמואל בהני תלת מילי עבידי רבנן דמשנו במלייהו במסכת ובפוריא ובאושפיזא

Rav Yehuda said in the name of Shmuel, "In only these three matters is it the practice of the rabbis to deviate in their speech [from the truth]: regarding a section [of rabbinic study], intimacy, and hospitality.

במסכת - יש בידך מסכת פלוני סדורה בגירסא או לאו ואע"ג שסדורה היא לו יאמר לו לאו ומדת ענוה היא:

בפוריא - שימשת מטתך יאמר לאו מדת צניעות הוא:

באושפיזא - שאלוקו על אושפיזו אם קבלו בסבר פנים יפות ואמר לאו מדה טובה היא כדי שלא יקפצו בו בני אדם שאינן מהוגנין לבא תמיד עליו ויכלו את ממונו:

Regarding a section - [if someone asks] do you know such-and-such section, in its appropriate version, or not? And even though he does know it well, he should say 'no', and this is the character trait of humility.

Regarding intimacy - [if someone asks] did you do the deed? He should answer 'no'; this is the character trait of modesty.

Regarding hospitality - If they ask him if his host received him well, he should answer them "no." This is a good character trait in order to prevent undesirable guests from inundating him [the host] and exhausting his resources.

- What values are considered here, together with truth? Why?

תנו רבנן כיצד מרקדין לפני הכלה בית שמאי אומרים כלה כמות שהיא ובית הלל אומרים כלה נאה וחסודה אמרו להן ב"ש לב"ה הרי שהיתה חיגרת או סומא אומרי' לה כלה נאה וחסודה והתורה אמרה (שמות כג, ז) מדבר שקר תרחק אמרו להם ב"ה לב"ש לדבריכם מי שלקח מקח רע מן השוק ישבחנו בעיניו או יגננו בעיניו הוי אומר ישבחנו בעיניו מכאן אמרו חכמים לעולם תהא דעתו של אדם מעורבת עם הבריות כי אתא רב דימי אמר הכי משרו קמי כלתא במערבא לא כחל ולא שרק ולא פירכוס ויעלת חן כי סמכו רבנן לרבי זירא שרו ליה הכי לא כחל ולא שרק ולא פירכוס ויעלת חן

§ The Sages taught: How does one dance before the bride, i.e., what does one recite while dancing at her wedding? [17a] Beit Shammai say: One recites praise of the bride as she is, emphasizing her good qualities. And Beit Hillel say: One recites: A fair and attractive bride. Beit Shammai said to Beit Hillel: In a case where the bride was lame or blind, does one say with regard to her: A fair and attractive bride? But the Torah states: “Keep you from a false matter” (Exodus 23:7). Beit Hillel said to Beit Shammai: According to your statement, with regard to one who acquired an inferior acquisition from the market, should another praise it and enhance its value in his eyes or condemn it and diminish its value in his eyes? You must say that he should praise it and enhance its value in his eyes and refrain from causing him anguish. From here the Sages said: A person’s disposition should always be empathetic with mankind, and treat everyone courteously. In this case too, once the groom has married his bride, one praises her as being fair and attractive. When Rav Dimi came from Eretz Yisrael to Babylonia, he said: This is what they sing before brides in the West, in Eretz Yisrael: No eye shadow, and no rouge, and no braiding of the hair, and yet she is comparable to a graceful gazelle. The Gemara relates: When the Sages ordained Rabbi Zeira, this is what they metaphorically sang with regard to him in his praise: No eye shadow, and no rouge, and no braiding of the hair, and yet she is comparable to a graceful gazelle.

כלה כמות שהיא - ואם יש בה מום ישתקו ולא ישבחוה אי נמי ישבחוה בדבר נאה שיש בה כגון בעיניה או בידיה אם הם יפות וב"ה אומרים ישבחוה לגמרי דכשמזכירין מה שיש בה לשבח מכלל דשאר לגנאי: ישבחנו בעיניו או יגננו בעיניו - וב"ש סברי אע"ג דישבחנו בעיניו אין להם לחכמים לתקן להזקיק לומר שקר דהתורה אמרה מדבר שקר תרחק:
The bride as she is: And if she has a blemish, they are quiet and they do not praise it. And also (another possibility is) they praise her with something pleasant that she has - for example, [he praises her] about her eyes or her hands if they are beautiful. And Beit Hillel says that you praise her altogether, as when we mention that which she has to be praised, it implies that the rest is to be denigrated.

- What values are being considered here, together with truth? Why?

אמרי ליה רבנן לריב"ל אתו דרדקי האידנא לבי מדרשא ואמרו מילי דאפילו בימי יהושע בן נו"ן לא איתמר כוותייהו אל"ף בי"ת אלף בינה גימ"ל דל"ת גמול דלים מ"ט פשוטה כרעיה דגימ"ל לגבי דל"ת שכן דרכו של גומל חסדים לרוץ אחר דלים ומ"ט פשוטה כרעיה דדל"ת לגבי גימ"ל דלימציה ליה נפשיה ומ"ט מהדר אפיה דדל"ת מגימ"ל דליתן ליה בצינעה כי היכי דלא ליכסיף מיניה ה"ו זה שמו של הקב"ה ז"ח ט"י כ"ל ואם אתה עושה כן הקב"ה זן אותך וחן אותך ומטיב לך ונותן לך ירושה וקושר לך כתר לעוה"ב מ"ם פתוחה מ"ם סתומה מאמר פתוח מאמר סתום נו"ן כפופה נו"ן פשוטה נאמן כפוף נאמן פשוט ס"ע סמוך עניים ל"א סימנין עשה בתורה וקנה אותה פ' כפופה פ' פשוטה פה פתוח פה סתום צד"י כפופה וצד"י פשוטה צדיק כפוף צדיק פשוט היינו נאמן כפוף נאמן פשוט הוסיף לך הכתוב כפיפה על כפיפתו מכאן שנתנה התורה במנוד ראש קו"ף קדוש רי"ש רשע מאי טעמא מהדר אפיה דקו"ף מרי"ש אמר הקב"ה אין אני יכול להסתכל ברשע ומאי טעמא מהדרה תגיה דקו"ף לגבי רי"ש אמר הקב"ה אם חוזר בו אני קושר לו כתר כמותי ומ"ט כרעיה דקו"ף תלויה דאי הדר ביה ליעייל וליעול בהך מסייע ליה לריש לקיש) דאמר ר"ל מ"ד (משלי ג, לד) אם ללצים הוא יליץ ולענוים יתן חן בא ליטמא פותחין לו בא ליטהר מסייעים אותו שי"ן שקר תי"ו אמת מאי טעמא שקר מקרבן מיליה אמת מרחקא מיליה שיקרא שכיח קושטא לא שכיח ומ"ט שיקרא אחדא כרעיה קאי ואמת מלבן לבוניה קושטא קאי שיקרא לא קאי
The Sages said to Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: Young students came today to the study hall and said things the likes of which were not said even in the days of Joshua bin Nun. These children who only knew the Hebrew alphabet interpreted the letters homiletically.
Alef beit means learn [elaf] the wisdom [bina] of the Torah.
Gimmel dalet means give to the poor [gemol dalim]. Why is the leg of the gimmel extended toward the dalet? Because it is the manner of one who bestows loving-kindness to pursue the poor. And why is the leg of the dalet extended toward the gimmel? It is so that a poor person will make himself available to him who wants to give him charity. And why does the dalet face away from the gimmel? It is to teach that one should give charity discreetly so that the poor person will not be embarrassed by him.
The children continued to interpret the letters.
Heh vav: That is the principal name of the Holy One, Blessed be He.
Zayin ḥet, tet yod, kaf lamed: And if you do so, the Holy One, Blessed be He, feeds [zan] you, and shows you favor [ḥan], and bestows goodness [meitiv] upon you, and gives you an inheritance [yerusha], and ties a crown [keter] for you in the World to Come [la’olam haba].
The open mem and closed mem indicate that the Torah contains an open statement, understood by all, and an esoteric statement.
The bent nun and the straight nun at the end of a word refer to a faithful person who is bent [ne’eman kafuf] and is modest now, who will ultimately become a well-known faithful person [ne’eman pashut].
Samekh ayin: Support the poor [semokh aniyyim] to prevent them from falling further. Another version: Make mnemonic signs [simanim aseh] to remember the Torah and acquire it.
The bent peh and the straight peh: Sometimes one needs to have an open mouth [peh patuaḥ] and speak, and sometimes one needs to have a closed mouth [peh satum].
The bent tzadi and the straight tzadi indicate that a righteous person who is bent and humble [tzaddik kafuf] now will ultimately become a well-known righteous person [tzaddik pashut] whose righteousness is apparent to all. The Gemara asks: That is identical to the interpretation of the bent and straight nun: Ne’eman kafuf, ne’eman pashut. The Gemara explains: The verse added the bending of the righteous person to the bending of the faithful person. From here it is derived that the Torah was given in an atmosphere of gravity. One must receive the Torah with a sense of awe and extreme humility.
The children continued:
Kuf: Holy [kadosh], referring to God.
Reish: A wicked person [rasha]. Why is the kuf facing away from the reish? This question was phrased euphemistically, as it is the reish that is facing away from the kuf. The Holy One, Blessed be He, said: I am unable look at a wicked person, i.e., the wicked person does not want to look toward God. And why is the crown of the letter kuf turned toward the reish? The Holy One, Blessed be He, said: If the wicked person repents his evil ways I will tie a crown for him like My own. And why is the leg of the kuf suspended and not connected to the roof of the letter? Because if the wicked person repents he can enter through this opening if he so desires.
The Gemara asks: Let him enter through that opening, as the kuf is open on both sides at the bottom.The Gemara answers: This supports the statement of Reish Lakish, as Reish Lakish said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “If it concerns the scorners, He scorns them, and unto the humble He gives grace” (Proverbs 3:34)? One who comes in order to become impure, i.e., to sin, they, in Heaven, provide him with an opening to do so, and he is not prevented from sinning. However, if he comes in order to become purified, not only is he allowed to do so, but they, in Heaven, assist him. They further taught:
Shin: Falsehood [sheker]. Tav: Truth [emet].
Why are the letters of the word sheker adjacent to one another in the alphabet, while the letters of emet are distant from one another? That is because while falsehood is easily found, truth is found only with great difficulty. And why do the letters that comprise the word sheker all stand on one foot, and the letters that comprise the word emet stand on bases that are wide like bricks? Because the truth stands eternal and falsehood does not stand eternal.

- How is the idea of truth and lie derived in this source?

- Is it meaningful that it is the children that bring forth this "Torah"?

מתני׳ כשם שאונאה במקח וממכר כך אונאה בדברים לא יאמר לו בכמה חפץ זה והוא אינו רוצה ליקח אם היה בעל תשובה לא יאמר לו זכור מעשיך הראשונים אם הוא בן גרים לא יאמר לו זכור מעשה אבותיך שנאמר (שמות כב, כ) וגר לא תונה ולא תלחצנו: גמ׳ ת"ר (ויקרא כה, יז) לא תונו איש את עמיתו באונאת דברים הכתוב מדבר אתה אומר באונאת דברים או אינו אלא באונאת ממון כשהוא אומר (ויקרא כה, יד) וכי תמכרו ממכר לעמיתך או קנה מיד עמיתך הרי אונאת ממון אמור הא מה אני מקיים (ויקרא כה, יז) לא תונו איש את עמיתו באונאת דברים הא כיצד אם היה בעל תשובה אל יאמר לו זכור מעשיך הראשונים אם היה בן גרים אל יאמר לו זכור מעשה אבותיך אם היה גר ובא ללמוד תורה אל יאמר לו פה שאכל נבילות וטריפות שקצים ורמשים בא ללמוד תורה שנאמרה מפי הגבורה אם היו יסורין באין עליו אם היו חלאים באין עליו או שהיה מקבר את בניו אל יאמר לו כדרך שאמרו לו חביריו לאיוב (איוב ד, ו) הלא יראתך כסלתך תקותך ותום דרכיך זכר נא מי הוא נקי אבד אם היו חמרים מבקשין תבואה ממנו לא יאמר להם לכו אצל פלוני שהוא מוכר תבואה ויודע בו שלא מכר מעולם ר"י אומר אף לא יתלה עיניו על המקח בשעה שאין לו דמים שהרי הדבר מסור ללב וכל דבר המסור ללב נאמר בו ויראת מאלקיך א"ר יוחנן משום ר"ש בן יוחאי גדול אונאת דברים מאונאת ממון שזה נאמר בו (ויקרא כה, יז) ויראת מאלקיך וזה לא נאמר בו ויראת מאלקיך ור' אלעזר אומר זה בגופו וזה בממונו רבי שמואל בר נחמני אמר זה ניתן להישבון וזה לא ניתן להישבון
MISHNA: Just as there is a prohibition against exploitation [ona’a] in buying and selling, so is there ona’a in statements, i.e., verbal mistreatment. The mishna proceeds to cite examples of verbal mistreatment. One may not say to a seller: For how much are you selling this item, if he does not wish to purchase it. He thereby upsets the seller when the deal fails to materialize. The mishna lists other examples: If one is a penitent, another may not say to him: Remember your earlier deeds. If one is the child of converts, another may not say to him: Remember the deeds of your ancestors, as it is stated: “And a convert shall you neither mistreat, nor shall you oppress him” (Exodus 22:20). GEMARA: The Sages taught: It is written: “And you shall not mistreat [tonu] one man his colleague; and you shall fear your God, for I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 25:17). The tanna explains: The verse is speaking with regard to verbal mistreatment. The baraita proceeds: Do you say that it is speaking of verbal mistreatment [be’ona’at devarim], or perhaps it is speaking only with regard to monetary exploitation [be’ona’at mammon]? When it says in a previous verse: “And if you sell to your colleague an item that is sold, or acquire from your colleague’s hand, you shall not exploit [tonu] his brother” (Leviticus 25:14), monetary exploitation is explicitly stated. How then do I realize the meaning of the verse: “And you shall not mistreat one man his colleague”? It is with regard to verbal mistreatment. How so? If one is a penitent, another may not say to him: Remember your earlier deeds. If one is the child of converts, another may not say to him: Remember the deed of your ancestors. If one is a convert and he came to study Torah, one may not say to him: Does the mouth that ate unslaughtered carcasses and animals that had wounds that would have caused them to die within twelve months [tereifot], and repugnant creatures, and creeping animals, comes to study Torah that was stated from the mouth of the Almighty? If torments are afflicting a person, if illnesses are afflicting him, or if he is burying his children, one may not speak to him in the manner that the friends of Job spoke to him: “Is not your fear of God your confidence, and your hope the integrity of your ways? Remember, I beseech you, whoever perished, being innocent?” (Job 4:6–7). Certainly you sinned, as otherwise you would not have suffered misfortune. Likewise, if donkey drivers are asking to purchase grain from someone, and he has none, he may not say to them: Go to so-and-so, as he sells grain, if he knows about him that he never sold grain at all. He thereby causes the donkey drivers and the would-be seller anguish. Rabbi Yehuda says: One may not even cast his eyes on the merchandise for sale, creating the impression that he is interested, at a time when he does not have money to purchase it. Verbal mistreatment is not typically obvious, and it is difficult to ascertain the intent of the offender, as the matter is given to the heart of each individual, as only he knows what his intention was when he spoke. And with regard to any matter given to the heart, it is stated: “And you shall fear your God” (Leviticus 25:17), as God is privy to the intent of the heart. Rabbi Yoḥanan says in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai: Greater is the transgression of verbal mistreatment than the transgression of monetary exploitation, as with regard to this, verbal mistreatment, it is stated: “And you shall fear your God.” But with regard to that, monetary exploitation, it is not stated: “And you shall fear your God.” And Rabbi Elazar said this explanation: This, verbal mistreatment, affects one’s body; but that, monetary exploitation, affects one’s money. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani says: This, monetary exploitation, is given to restitution; but that, verbal mistreatment, is not given to restitution.

Some of those verbal mistreatments (ona'at devarim) are actually true. Why do those statements fall into that category? What else matters beside the truth?

(תהלים פט, נב) (אשר חרפו אויביך ה' אשר חרפו עקבות משיחך) תניא ר' יהודה אומר דור שבן דוד בא בו בית הוועד יהיה לזנות והגליל יחרב והגבלן יאשם ואנשי גבול יסובבו מעיר לעיר ולא יחוננו וחכמת הסופרים תסרח ויראי חטא ימאסו ופני הדור כפני כלב והאמת נעדרת שנאמר (ישעיהו נט, טו) ותהי האמת נעדרת (וסר מרע משתולל) מאי ותהי האמת נעדרת אמרי דבי רב מלמד שנעשית עדרים עדרים והולכת לה מאי וסר מרע משתולל אמרי דבי ר' שילא כל מי שסר מרע משתולל על הבריות אמר רבא מריש הוה אמינא ליכא קושטא בעלמא אמר לי ההוא מרבנן ורב טבות שמיה ואמרי לה רב טביומי שמיה דאי הוו יהבי ליה כל חללי דעלמא לא הוה משני בדבוריה זימנא חדא איקלעי לההוא אתרא וקושטא שמיה ולא הוו משני בדיבורייהו ולא הוה מיית איניש מהתם בלא זימניה נסיבי איתתא מינהון והוו לי תרתין בנין מינה יומא חד הוה יתבא דביתהו וקא חייפא רישה אתאי שיבבתה טרפא אדשא סבר לאו אורח ארעא אמר לה ליתא הכא שכיבו ליה תרתין בנין אתו אינשי דאתרא לקמיה אמרו ליה מאי האי אמר להו הכי הוה מעשה א"ל במטותא מינך פוק מאתרין ולא תגרי בהו מותנא בהנך אינשי
The verse states: “That Your enemies taunted, Lord, that they have taunted the footsteps of Your anointed” (Psalms 89:52). It is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Yehuda says: During the generation that the son of David comes, the hall of the assembly of the Sages will be designated for prostitution, and the Galilee will be destroyed, and the Gavlan, i.e., Bashan, will be desolate, and the residents of the border who flee the neighboring gentiles will circulate from city to city and will receive no sympathy. The wisdom of scholars will diminish, and sin-fearing people will be despised. And the face of the generation will be like the face of a dog in its impudence and shamelessness. And the truth will be lacking, as it is stated: “And the truth is lacking [ne’ederet], and he who departs from evil is negated” (Isaiah 59:15). What is the meaning of the phrase: And the truth is lacking [ne’ederet]? The Sages of the study hall of Rav said: This teaches that truth will become like so many flocks [adarim] and walk away. What is the meaning of the phrase: “And he that departs from evil is negated”? The Sages of the study hall of Rabbi Sheila said: Anyone who deviates from evil is deemed insane by the people. § Concerning the lack of truth, Rava says: Initially I would say that there is no truth anywhere in the world. There was a certain one of the Sages, and Rav Tavut is his name, and some say Rav Tavyomei is his name, who was so honest that if they were to give him the entire world, he would not deviate from the truth in his statement. He said to me: One time I happened to come to a certain place, and Truth is its name, and its residents would not deviate from the truth in their statements, and no person from there would die prematurely. I married a woman from among them, and I had two sons from her. One day his wife was sitting and washing the hair on her head. Her neighbor came and knocked on the door. He thought: It is not proper conduct to tell the neighbor that his wife is bathing. He said to her: She is not here. Since he deviated from the truth his two sons died. The people residing in that place came before him and said to him: What is the meaning of this? He said to them: This was the nature of the incident, and told them what happened. They said to him: Please leave our place and do not provoke premature death upon these people.

In the story told by Rava, what is the leeway for telling the truth?

How do you understand the "truth" about this story? Imagining, as most would, that such a place does not exist, what is this story coming to teach us?

(ג) ובפרק חלק (סנהדרין צ"ז, א') אמר רבא מריש הו"א ליכא קושטא בעלמא אמר לי ההוא מרבנן ורב טבות שמיה ואמרי לה רב טביומי שמיה דאי הוה יהבי ליה כל חללי דעלמא לא הוי משני בדיבוריה זמנא חדא אקלע לאתרא דשמיה קושטא ולא הוה מיית איניש מהתם בלא זימניה נסיב אתתא מנהון והוי ליה תרתין בנין יומא חד יתבה דביתהו וקא חייפא רישה אתת שיבבתא טרפא אדשא סבר לאו אורח ארעא א"ל ליתה הכא שכיבו ליה תרתין בנין אתו אינשי דאתרא לקמיה אמרו ליה מאי האי אמר להו הכי הוי מעשה אמרו ליה במטותא מינך פוק מאתרין ולא תיגרי בהו מותנא בהנך אנשי. מאמר הזה קשה מאוד מה ענין המקום הזה יותר היה ראוי לירושלים שהיא עיר הצדק ולמה היה מדריגה זאת לעיר אחרת, גם לא מצאנו המקום הזה, ועוד אם המקום גורם שלא ישנה האדם האמת אם כן למה לא גרם לרב טבות שלא יהיה משנה, ויש לדעת כי עיקר המאמר הזה בא להודיע על מעלת האמת, שכל אשר נמשך אחר האמת שראוי אליו הקיום וכמו שאמרו חכמים קושטא קאי שקרא לא קאי, כי האמת ראוי אליו המציאות והשקר ראוי אליו ההעדר שלא יהיה נמצא, ואמר כי ההוא מרבנן ורב טבות שמיה ואמרי לה רב טביומי שמיה, ר"ל כי יש צורבא מרבנן אשר מדריגה שלו עליונה עד אשר נקרא שמו רב טבות, ר"ל שהוא טוב מסולק מן הפחיתות החמרי כי מי שיש בו פחיתות דבק בו הרע, ולפיכך אמר כי שמו רב טבות, ואיכא דאמרי כי שמו רב טביומי דבר זה יותר מעלה מן המעלה הראשונה, כי מעלה הראשונה שהוא מסולק מן הפחיתות עד שהוא טוב מצד עצמו ולאיכא דאמרי נקרא טביומי, ופי' טביומי שיש בו הטוב של היום כי היום יש בו האור שנקרא טוב גמור וכמו שאז"ל (פסחים ב', א') לעולם יצא אדם בכי טוב ויכנס בכי טוב והיינו כאשר הוא יום, וכך ר"ל בכאן שהיה לו מדריגה שכלית נבדל מן החומר כי האור יש לו מדריגה נבדלת מן החומר. ודבר זה בארנו בהקדמה אצל כי נר מצוה ותורה אור, ועוד בארנו דבר זה במקומות הרבה כי האור מורה על מעלה נבדלת מן הגשמי, ותראה כי כל הדברים שאינם מאירים הם גשמיים וכמו שבארנו פעמים הרבה, ולפיכך הזכות והבהירות מורה על שהוא מסולק מן הגשמי, וזה שאמר טביומי שמיה שנקרא על שם היום שבו האור וכדכתיב ויקרא ה' לאור יום, ור"ל כי הת"ח נבדל לגמרי מן הגשמי עד שהוא נוטה אל המדריגה הנבדלת לגמרי עד שנקרא טוב יומי. והבן ההפרש שיש בין אלו שני לשונות, כי ללישנא קמא רב טבות שמיה דהיינו שהוא טוב מסולק מן הרע, ולאידך לישנא מסולק מן הגשמי שבו הרע. ומי שיש בו החכמה והתבונה יודע כי פירוש זה ברור:

And regarding the story in Sanhedrin 97a ...

This is a difficult story. What is the point of the place, which should have been Yerushalayim, given that it is the "city of justice", why should this lofty level be found in a different city? And also, we haven't found such a city. And more: if the place makes that truth can't be changed, why didn't it make that Rav tevut himself didn't change? One has to understand that the point of this passage is to teach the high importance of truth, that all which follows truth is suitable for permanence and continuity, as the sages said: "Truth stands, falsehood does not stand (Shabbat 104a) for truth is fit for existence and falsehood is fit for emptiness.

... And regarding why he is called Tavut or Taviomi: there are different levels of rabbinic students. Those who are in a high level receive the name of Rav Tavut, that is to say, he is good (tov) when removed from the unimportance of physicality, since to some the unimportant things cling badness onto them - and so he was called Rav Tavut. 'And there are those who say he was called Rav Taviomi' because this is a level higher than the first, since in the first one he is separated from the unimportance until he is good by himself. And the explanation for Taviomi is that he has within the good (tov) of today (hayom), meaning that today he has within the light that is called 'complete goodness'

Maharsha, Sanhedrin 97a

Since the seal of the Holy One is emet [alef, mem, tav; truth; Shabbat 55a], and through this seal the world is sustained ... therefore, one who changes one’s words destroys the seal. And even if one detracts or destroys a little, which is [symbolized by the loss of] the aleph, that which remains is the word met (mem, taf). Alternatively, one who does not alter his words, sustains himself and his world through the seal of Creation which is emet, which means that no one will have an untimely end, for lying brings an untimely death.

Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler, Michtav M’Eliyahu, Vol. I, p. 94; 117; Vol II, p.139

What is truth and what is falsehood? When we went to school we were taught that truth is to tell facts as they occurred and falsehood is to deviate from this. This is true in simple cases, but in life many occasions arise when this simple definition no longer applies.

Sometimes it may be wrong to “tell the truth” about another person, for example if it would reveal something negative about him, unless there was an overriding purpose and necessity. And sometimes it may be necessary to change details, when the plain truth would not bring benefit, but injury. In such cases what appears to be true is false (שקר), since it produces evil effects; and what appears to be false may help to achieve the truth.

We had better define truth (אמת) as that which is conducive to good and which conforms with the Will of the Creator, and falsehood (שקר) as that which furthers the scheme of the Prince of Falsehood, the power of evil in the world.

...

The highest level of exercising one’s free will is to realize that evil is total falsehood and has no intrinsic, independent existence [even though it appears to], until he is no longer drawn to it. Instead, he loves good alone.

...

Before Adam ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, his pure, untainted intellect only perceived things to be either obviously true or obviously false. He did not perceive things as being “good” or “evil.”

In other words, when a person sees with pristine clarity the repugnance of evil and the beauty of good, then he sees in every matter a simple choice of truth over falsehood. Because, on a deeper level, “good” is really that which accords with the Will of God, and it alone is truth and has permanence. Evil is anything which contradicts God’s Will, and is falsehood and nothingness.

Because God’s Will is the only engine and source of reality – there is nothing else. How then could a creature want to do something that contradicts it? It is like he wants something that does not exist, as if he is pursuing a void and false vision. He chooses a vacuum over existence, and sends himself into oblivion...

Based on this we can understand that before Adam ate from the Tree, his choice to imbibe evil into his being was like the choice to jump into a fire. And after he ate, good and evil were now mixed up inside him so that he lost his initial clarity [and could no longer extricate himself from the situation to choose correctly].

Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinal- August 31, 2010-Fourteen-year-old Zack Nash had just won a golf tournament when he realized that a friend of his had left a golf club in Zack's golf bag. According to golf rules, a player is only allowed to carry fourteen clubs in his bag and with his friend's extra club, he was carrying fifteen the entire tournament. This rule applies even though Zack didn't use the extra club and it meant that Zack's entire game was invalid. Zack could have easily ignored the infraction and justified it in his mind because it played no role in his game. But Zack decided that this was not the right thing to do and Zack called the director of the tournament to let him know that he was disqualifying himself from the tournament and was sending back the medal.

Did anyone tell a lie in this case?


1) After breaking a 5 game losing streak, the Wildcats congratulated and high fived each other on the win. John, the captain of the team, is pulled over by Sam, who, let's just say, was not the best player on the team. Sam had turned the ball over and missed some easy shots in the game. Sam asked John, "How did I play?". John is flustered and does not know what to say. Should he tell him like it is or should he maybe compliment him on one thing that he didn't do so bad in, like his defense?

2) Rachel lives on a block where her neighbors love to talk about everyone else‘s business. One day, her neighbor approaches her and says ―"Hey Rachel, I noticed that your car wasn‘t in the driveway last night. Where did you go?" Rachel is not interested in telling her neighbor where she was last night. May she lie and tell her that she went to the supermarket?

3) Bob: Why were you late to work this morning? Doug: I had to take care of some paperwork at the bank (even though in truth, he was at home caring for his pregnant wife who was not feeling well).-----Is this correct?

4) Yaakov and Chezkie were telling friends about a camp outing. Yaakov started making up a story about a midnight intruder to their campfire. Chezkie interrupted him and said: “Stop making up stories. There was no midnight intruder.” Yaakov responded: “So what, they’ll never know!”

ר"א בנו של רבי יוסי הגלילי אומר אסור לבצוע וכל הבוצע ה"ז חוטא וכל המברך את הבוצע הרי זה מנאץ ועל זה נאמר (תהלים י, ג) בוצע ברך נאץ ה' אלא יקוב הדין את ההר שנאמר (דברים א, יז) כי המשפט לאלקים הוא וכן משה היה אומר יקוב הדין את ההר אבל אהרן אוהב שלום ורודף שלום ומשים שלום בין אדם לחבירו שנאמר (מלאכי ב, ו) תורת אמת היתה בפיהו ועולה לא נמצא בשפתיו בשלום ובמישור הלך אתי ורבים השיב מעון

רבי יהושע בן קרחה אומר מצוה לבצוע שנאמר (זכריה ח, טז) אמת ומשפט שלום שפטו בשעריכם והלא במקום שיש משפט אין שלום ובמקום שיש שלום אין משפט אלא איזהו משפט שיש בו שלום הוי אומר זה ביצוע וכן בדוד הוא אומר (שמואל ב ח, טו) ויהי דוד עושה משפט וצדקה והלא כל מקום שיש משפט אין צדקה וצדקה אין משפט אלא איזהו משפט שיש בו צדקה הוי אומר זה ביצוע

רבי שמעון בן מנסיא אומר שנים שבאו לפניך לדין עד שלא תשמע דבריהן או משתשמע דבריהן ואי אתה יודע להיכן דין נוטה אתה רשאי לומר להן צאו ובצעו משתשמע דבריהן ואתה יודע להיכן הדין נוטה אי אתה רשאי לומר להן צאו ובצעו שנאמר (משלי יז, יד) פוטר מים ראשית מדון ולפני התגלע הריב נטוש קודם שנתגלע הריב אתה יכול לנטשו משנתגלע הריב אי אתה יכול יכול לנטשו

R. Eliezer, the son of R. Jose the Galilean, used to say: It is prohibited to mediate, and he who should do so sins; and he who praises the mediators despises the law, as it is written [Ps. x. 3]: "The robber blesseth himself when he hath despised the Lord." Rather, the strict law shall bore the mountain, as it is written [Deut. i. 17]: "The judgment belongs to God." And so was it said by Moses our master. But Aaron loved peace, ran after it, and used to make peace among the people, as it is written [Mal. ii. 6]: "The law of truth was in his mouth, and falsehood was not found on his lips; in peace and equity he walked with me, and many did he turn away from iniquity."

And R. Jehoshua b. Karha also said: Arbitration is a meritorious act, as it is written [Zech. viii. 16]: "With truth and the judgment of peace, judge ye in your gates." But when there is judgment, there is no peace; and vice versa?! What is judgement that contains peace? This is arbitration. So also was it said about David [II Sam. viii. 16]: "And David did what was just and charitable unto all his people." But where there is justice, there is no charity, and where there is charity, there is no justice?! Rather, what is justice which contains charity? Arbitration.

R. Simeon b. Menasia said: If two persons brought a case before you, before you have heard their claims, and even thereafter, but you are still not aware to whom the strict law inclines, you may say to them: Go and mediate among yourselves. But after you are aware who is right according to the strict law, you must not advise them to mediate, as it is written [Prov. xvii. 14]: "As one letteth loose (a stream) of water, so is the beginning of strife; therefore before it be enkindled, leave off the contest"; which means, before it be enkindled you may advise a mediation, but not after you know with whom the law is.

(א) אַחַר כָּךְ יֵלֵךְ לַעֲסָקָיו, דְּכָל תּוֹרָה שֶׁאֵין עִמָּהּ מְלָאכָה סוֹפָהּ בְּטֵלָה וְגוֹרֶרֶת עָוֹן, כִּי הָעֹנִי יַעֲבִירֶנּוּ עַל דַּעַת קוֹנוֹ; וּמִכָּל מָקוֹם לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה מְלַאכְתּוֹ עִקָּר, אֶלָּא עֲרַאי, וְתוֹרָתוֹ קֶבַע, וְזֶה וָזֶה יִתְקַיֵּם בְּיָדוֹ; וְיִשָּׂא וְיִתֵּן בֶּאֱמוּנָה; וְיִזָּהֵר מִלְּהַזְכִּיר שֵׁם שָׁמַיִם לְבַטָּלָה, שֶׁבְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁהַזְכָּרַת הַשֵּׁם מְצוּיָה, מִיתָה מְצוּיָה; וְיִזָּהֵר מִלִּשָּׁבַע, אֲפִלּוּ בֶּאֱמֶת, שֶׁאֶלֶף עֲיָרוֹת הָיוּ לְיַנַּאי הַמֶּלֶךְ וְכֻלָּם נֶחְרְבוּ בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁהָיוּ נִשְׁבָּעִים שְׁבוּעוֹת אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהָיוּ מְקַיְּמִים אוֹתָם; וְיִזָּהֵר מִלְּהִשְׁתַּתֵּף עִם עַכּוּ''ם, שֶׁמָּא יִתְחַיֵּב לוֹ שְׁבוּעָה וְעוֹבֵר מִשּׁוּם לֹא יִשָּׁמַע עַל פִּיךָ (שְׁמוֹת כג, יג). הַגָּה: וְיֵשׁ מְקִלִּין בַּעֲשִׂיַּת שֻׁתָּפוּת עִם הַעַכּוּ''ם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה, מִשּׁוּם שֶׁאֵין הַעַכּוּ''ם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה נִשְׁבָּעִים בַּעֲבוֹדַת אֱלִילִים, וְאַף עַל גַּב דְּמַזְכִּירִין הָעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, מִכָּל מָקוֹם כַּוָּנָתָם לְעוֹשֶׂה שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ אֶלָּא שֶׁמְּשַׁתְּפִים שֵׁם שָׁמַיִם וְדָבָר אַחֵר, וְלֹא מָצִינוּ שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּזֶה מִשּׁוּם: וְלִפְנֵי עִוֵּר לֹא תִתֵּן מִכְשֹׁל (וַיִּקְרָא יט, יד) דַּהֲרֵי אֵינָם מֻזְהָרִין עַל הַשִּׁתּוּף (רַ''ן ספ''ק דַּעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וְר' יְרוּחָם ני''ז ח''ה וְתוס' רֵישׁ פ''ק דִּבְכוֹרוֹת); וְלָשֵׂאת וְלָתֵת עִמָּהֶם בְּלֹא שֻׁתָּפוּת, לְכֻלֵּי עָלְמָא שָׁרֵי בְּלֹא יוֹם חַגֵּיהֶם (הַגָּהוֹת מַיְמוֹנִי פ''ח מֵהִלְכוֹת עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה) וְעַיֵּן בְּיוֹרֵה דֵּעָה מֵהִלְכוֹת ע''א סי' קמ''ז.

(1) After this he should go to his work because any Torah that does not have work with it will end up becoming null and it causes sin because the poverty will remove from him knowledge of his Creator. Nevertheless, he should not make his work primary, rather temporary, and his Torah permanent. And (through this) both will be sustained. He should do business honestly and be careful not to mention the name of Heaven in vain, because in every place where the mention of God's name (in vain) is found, death is found. And he should be careful not to swear, even in truth, because 1,000 cities belonged to King Jannaeus and all of them were destroyed because they swore, even though they kept them. And he should be careful from partnering with the Kusim; perhaps (the Kusi) will be obligated to swear (agains him) and (the Jew) will violate, "(The names of other gods) should not be heard through your mouth." Rama: And some are lenient with partnering with Kusim these days because the Kusim of these times do not swear by idol worship. And even though they mention the foreign idol, nevertheless their intention is to the Creator of heaven and earth, except that they join the name of Heaven and (foreign gods). And we do not find that there is in this (a violation by the Jew of) "Before a blind person you shall not place a stumbling block," because the kusim are not enjoined regarding partnership (of God with idols). (Ra"n in the last chapter of Avodah Zarah, Rabbeinu Yeruchem path 17 part 5, Tosfos in the beinning of the first chapter of Bechoros). And to do business with them without partnering all agree is permitted except on the day of their festivals. (Hagahos Maimoni first chapter of the Laws of Idol Worship) (And see Yoreh Deah in the Laws of Idol Worship chapter 147.)

פּתחי תשובה או"ח סי' קנ"ו

כל ספרי המוסר מרעישים את העולם על עון לשון הרע ואני מרעיש את העולם להיפּוך עון גדול מזה וגם הוא מצוי יותר והוא מניעת עצמו מלדבר במקום שנצרך להציל...

Pischei Teshuva Orach Chaim 156

(1813-1868, Russia)

All the Mussar Seforim exhort massively about the Mitzvah of Loshon Haroh (telling tales) and I exhort massively on the opposite - an even greater sin and that is preventing himself from speaking in a case where it is necessary to save the exploited from exploitation.. with regard to financial affairs it is the mitzvah of Hashavat Avedah (returning lost property).. with matters of Shiduch if he knows the man is bad and a no-gooder and it is wrong to marry him it is within the Mitzvah of Hashavat Avedah with the body and possessions.

אמר ליה אביי מאי חזית דסמכת אדרב דימי סמוך אדרבין דכי אתא רבין אמר רבי נתן ורבי יהודה הנשיא מורים בה להיתירא ומאן רבי יהודה הנשיא רבי ואף רב מורה בה היתירא דההוא דאתא לקמיה דרב אמר ליה עובד כוכבים ועבד הבא על בת ישראל מהו אמר ליה הולד כשר אמר ליה הב לי ברתך לא יהיבנא לך אמר שימי בר חייא לרב אמרי אינשי גמלא במדי אקבא רקדא הא קבא והא גמלא והא מדי ולא רקדא א"ל אי ניהוי כיהושע בן נון לא יהיבנא ליה ברתי א"ל אי הוה כיהושע בן נון אי מר לא יהיב ליה אחריני יהבי ליה האי אי מר לא יהיב ליה אחריני לא יהבי ליה לא הוה קאזיל מקמיה יהיב ביה עיניה ושכיב ואף רב מתנה מורה בה להיתירא ואף רב יהודה מורה בה להיתירא דכי אתא לקמיה דרב יהודה א"ל זיל איטמר או נסיב בת מינך וכי אתא לקמיה דרבא א"ל או גלי או נסיב בת מינך
Abaye said to Rav Yosef: What did you see that you rely upon Rav Dimi and his tradition that Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi holds that the offspring of a gentile or a slave and a Jewish woman is a mamzer? Rely instead upon Ravin, as when Ravin came from Eretz Yisrael he said that Rabbi Natan and Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi both rule that the offspring is permitted to marry into the congregation of Israel. And who is the Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi referred to in Ravin’s report? It is the one who is simply referred to as Rabbi, the redactor of the Mishna, whose opinion is accepted as the halakha. The Gemara notes: And even Rav rules that the offspring is permitted, as is evident from an incident involving a certain individual who came before Rav and said to him: With regard to the offspring of a gentile or a slave who engaged in intercourse with a Jewish woman, what is its halakhic status? Rav said to him: The lineage of the offspring is unflawed. The individual who asked the question was himself such a child, and he said to Rav: If so, give me your daughter in marriage. He said to him: I will not give her to you. Shimi bar Ḥiyya, Rav’s grandson, said to Rav: People often say that a camel in Medes can dance upon a small space that holds only a single kav of produce. However, clearly that is an exaggeration, since if one would go to Medes one could demonstrate that this is a space that holds a kav, and this is a camel, and this is Medes, and yet the camel is not dancing, i.e., the truth of a statement becomes apparent when it is put to the test. So too, it would appear that you do not truly believe in your ruling because when put to the test, you are unwilling to rely on it. He said to him: Even if he were as great as Joshua, son of Nun, I would not give him my daughter in marriage. My refusal to give her to him in marriage is not that I do not stand by my ruling; it is for other reasons. He said to him: If he were as great as Joshua, son of Nun, then even if the Master would not give him his daughter, others would still give him their daughters. However, with regard to this man, if the Master does not give him his daughter, others will not give him their daughters either out of fear of damaging the family lineage. Nevertheless, Rav remained unwilling to give his daughter to that individual. That individual would not go from standing before Rav and continued to plead with him. Rav placed his eyes upon him and he died. The Gemara adds: And even Rav Mattana rules that the offspring is permitted, and even Rav Yehuda rules that the offspring is permitted, as is evident from the fact that when a child of a gentile or slave and a Jewish woman came before Rav Yehuda, he said to him: Go and conceal your paternal lineage so that people will not refrain from giving you their daughters in marriage, as it is permitted for you to marry into the congregation of Israel, or otherwise, marry a woman of your own kind, i.e., a woman of similar lineage. And similarly, when such a person came before Rava, he said to him: Either go into exile to a place where your lineage is unknown, so that others will give you their daughters in marriage, or marry a woman of your own kind.

What other values besides telling the truth are being considered in this piece?

How is truth being seen here, if you compare the idea of the dancing camel and the solution given to the person whose lineage is defective?

Sefer Chasidim (Rav Yehudah HaChasid, 1150-1217, Germany)

"One should not cover up the blemishes of his household. If his children or relatives are looking to get married, if they have a condition that were others to know about they would avoid marrying them, he must inform them about the condition, otherwise the marriage may be on false pretenses and therefore null."

- What other values could someone use NOT to say the truth in this case?

ת"ר מעשה בנכרי אחד שבא לפני שמאי אמר לו כמה תורות יש לכם אמר לו שתים תורה שבכתב ותורה שבעל פה א"ל שבכתב אני מאמינך ושבעל פה איני מאמינך גיירני ע"מ שתלמדני תורה שבכתב גער בו והוציאו בנזיפה בא לפני הלל גייריה יומא קמא א"ל א"ב ג"ד למחר אפיך ליה א"ל והא אתמול לא אמרת לי הכי א"ל לאו עלי דידי קא סמכת דעל פה נמי סמוך עלי: שוב מעשה בנכרי אחד שבא לפני שמאי א"ל גיירני ע"מ שתלמדני כל התורה כולה כשאני עומד על רגל אחת דחפו באמת הבנין שבידו בא לפני הלל גייריה אמר לו דעלך סני לחברך לא תעביד זו היא כל התורה כולה ואידך פירושה הוא זיל גמור. שוב מעשה בנכרי אחד שהיה עובר אחורי בית המדרש ושמע קול סופר שהיה אומר (שמות כח, ד) ואלה הבגדים אשר יעשו חושן ואפוד אמר הללו למי אמרו לו לכהן גדול אמר אותו נכרי בעצמו אלך ואתגייר בשביל שישימוני כהן גדול בא לפני שמאי אמר ליה גיירני על מנת שתשימני כהן גדול דחפו באמת הבנין שבידו בא לפני הלל גייריה א"ל כלום מעמידין מלך אלא מי שיודע טכסיסי מלכות לך למוד טכסיסי מלכות הלך וקרא כיון שהגיע (במדבר א, נא) והזר הקרב יומת אמר ליה מקרא זה על מי נאמר א"ל אפי' על דוד מלך ישראל נשא אותו גר קל וחומר בעצמו ומה ישראל שנקראו בנים למקום ומתוך אהבה שאהבם קרא להם (שמות ד, כב) בני בכורי ישראל כתיב עליהם והזר הקרב יומת גר הקל שבא במקלו ובתרמילו על אחת כמה וכמה בא לפני שמאי א"ל כלום ראוי אני להיות כהן גדול והלא כתיב בתורה והזר הקרב יומת בא לפני הלל א"ל ענוותן הלל ינוחו לך ברכות על ראשך שהקרבתני תחת כנפי השכינה לימים נזדווגו שלשתן למקום אחד אמרו קפדנותו של שמאי בקשה לטורדנו מן העולם ענוותנותו של הלל קרבנו תחת כנפי השכינה:

The Sages taught: There was an incident involving one gentile who came before Shammai. The gentile said to Shammai: How many Torahs do you have? He said to him: Two, the Written Torah and the Oral Torah. The gentile said to him: With regard to the Written Torah, I believe you, but with regard to the Oral Torah, I do not believe you. Convert me on condition that you will teach me only the Written Torah. Shammai scolded him and cast him out with reprimand. The same gentile came before Hillel, who converted him and began teaching him Torah. On the first day, he showed him the letters of the alphabet and said to him: Alef, bet, gimmel, dalet. The next day he reversed the order of the letters and told him that an alef is a tav and so on. The convert said to him: But yesterday you did not tell me that. Hillel said to him: You see that it is impossible to learn what is written without relying on an oral tradition. Didn’t you rely on me? Therefore, you should also rely on me with regard to the matter of the Oral Torah, and accept the interpretations that it contains. There was another incident involving one gentile who came before Shammai and said to Shammai: Convert me on condition that you teach me the entire Torah while I am standing on one foot. Shammai pushed him away with the builder’s cubit in his hand. This was a common measuring stick and Shammai was a builder by trade. The same gentile came before Hillel. He converted him and said to him: That which is hateful to you do not do to another; that is the entire Torah, and the rest is its interpretation. Go study. There was another incident involving one gentile who was passing behind the study hall and heard the voice of a teacher who was teaching Torah to his students and saying the verse: “And these are the garments which they shall make: A breastplate, and an efod, and a robe, and a tunic of checkered work, a mitre, and a girdle” (Exodus 28:4). The gentile said: These garments, for whom are they designated? The students said to him: For the High Priest. The gentile said to himself: I will go and convert so that they will install me as High Priest. He came before Shammai and said to him: Convert me on condition that you install me as High Priest. Shammai pushed him with the builder’s cubit in his hand. He came before Hillel; he converted him. Hillel said to him, to the convert: Is it not the way of the world that only one who knows the protocols [takhsisei] of royalty is appointed king? Go and learn the royal protocols by engaging in Torah study. He went and read the Bible. When he reached the verse which says: “And the common man that draws near shall be put to death” (Numbers 1:51), the convert said to Hillel: With regard to whom is the verse speaking? Hillel said to him: Even with regard to David, king of Israel. The convert reasoned an a fortiori inference himself: If the Jewish people are called God’s children, and due to the love that God loved them he called them: “Israel is My son, My firstborn” (Exodus 4:22), and nevertheless it is written about them: And the common man that draws near shall be put to death; a mere convert who came without merit, with nothing more than his staff and traveling bag, all the more so that this applies to him, as well. The convert came before Shammai and told him that he retracts his demand to appoint him High Priest, saying: Am I at all worthy to be High Priest? Is it not written in the Torah: And the common man that draws near shall be put to death? He came before Hillel and said to him: Hillel the patient, may blessings rest upon your head as you brought me under the wings of the Divine Presence. The Gemara relates: Eventually, the three converts gathered together in one place, and they said: Shammai’s impatience sought to drive us from the world; Hillel’s patience brought us beneath the wings of the Divine Presence.

Why didn't Hilel tell the truth right away?

הרב עזרא ביק: לכן לדעתי ראוי לפרש על פי הפסוק שמביא המדרש – אמת מארץ תצמח. הקב"ה משיב למלאכים, שהשלכת אמת ארצה אינה ביזיון, כי אמת מארץ תצמח. עליית אמת מן הארץ אינה ביטול ההשלכה ארצה, אלא מטרתה. מלאכי השרת חושבים שאמת חייבת להיות שלמה ומוחלטת, קיימת בטהרתה בשמים בלי מגע עם עולם חסר ולקוי. הקב"ה עונה להם, שיש גם אמת אחרת, אמת שצומחת מתוך הארץ, מתוך השקר. אמת הצומחת מתוך הארץ, לא רק שאינה מונעת בריאת האדם, אלא היא היא מטרת ותכלית בריאת האדם. המלאכים, בהתאם לתפקידם הרגיל במדרש, מביעים דעה פשוטה, לוגית וישרה, בנוגע לאמת. שקר ואמת הם תרתי דסתרי. הקב"ה מכיר במציאות מורכבת בהרבה, שבה יש סוג של אמת שמצעה הוא השקר, או לפחות הלא-מושלם, החסר. במלים אחרות, הקב"ה מחפש את ערך ההתפתחות. במתמטיקה של המלאכים, החסר תמיד שווה פחות מן המושלם. ואילו האלקים ברא את העולם כדי להשיג את הערך שיש בהתפתחות לקראת המושלם, בנוסף על הערך שיש במושלם ובמוחלט עצמו. יש ערך באדם, שמתוך חסרונו הולך ומתקרב אל האמת המוחלטת. ערך זה לא נמצא בעולם המלאכים. שם האמת אובייקטיבית ונמצאת ברמה גבוהה אין-סופית, אך גם סטטית וקפואה. בריאת האדם, שממבט האמת של המלאכים כולו שקר, אינה מנוגדת לאמת הצומחת מן הארץ – אדרבא, המצע החסר והלקוי הוא מצע הכרחי להשגת האמת הזאת. רק החסר יכול להיות בסיס לצמיחה. http://www.etzion.org.il/vbm/‎

Rabbi Ezra Bick:

In my view, we should explain the midrash’s conclusion based on the verse it cites at the end of this passage: “Truth shall grow from the earth.” God does not retract His previous casting of Truth to the earth; Truth remains cast down. God responds to the angels that casting Truth to the earth does not disgrace it, because “Truth shall grow from the earth.” The ministering angels thought that Truth must be complete and absolute, existing in the heavens in all its purity without any contact with a deficient, decadent world. God answers that there is another kind of truth, a truth that grows from the earth, from out of falsehood. Indeed, such truth not only does not prevent man’s creation, but constitutes the very purpose and goal of man’s creation. The angels, in accordance with the role they so often play in the midrash, express the simple and logical view: falsehood and truth are inherently contradictory. In the mathematics of the angels, something deficient is always worth less than something perfect. God recognizes a much more complex reality, wherein there is a kind of truth that originates from falsehood, or at least from imperfection. In other words, the Almighty seeks the value of process. God created the world in order to achieve the value of progress toward perfection, in addition to the value in that which is perfect and absolute. There is value in the fact that the human being, in his state of imperfection, progressively draws closer to absolute truth. This value has no place in the world of the angels; the realm of objective truth exists there at the highest level, but is static and frozen. The creation of man, who is “completely deceitful,” does not run in opposition to the truth that grows from the earth. To the contrary, the deficient, flawed foundation is necessary for the achievement of this kind of truth. Only the imperfect can form the basis of growth.

In His Mercy: Understanding the Thirteen Midot (Kindle Locations 1731-1746).

קָר֣וֹב ה' לְכָל־קֹרְאָ֑יו לְכֹ֤ל אֲשֶׁ֖ר יִקְרָאֻ֣הוּ בֶאֱמֶֽת׃

The ETERNAL is near to all who call Him, to all who call Him in truth.

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