Questions tagged [sheker-false]
Lying, not telling the truth, falsehood, etc.
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Are you allowed to lie in order to prevent embarrassing yourself
Is it mutar to lie if telling the truth will embarrass yourself?
For example, if Reuven asks Shimon if he went to minyan, and Reuven says yes because he doesn’t want to embarrass himself and give a ...
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Laws, advice and limitations on "lying for the sake of shalom"
Emet (truth) in general, and interpersonal honesty in specific are some of the most valued and imperative concepts in all of Torah. Throughout all Torah writings, it seems there is nothing more ...
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When can leaders lie to their people?
I am looking for Jewish sources that discuss when leaders can justifiably lie to their people for a greater purpose. (Reasons might be to avoid a panic, to avoid revealing sensitive secrets, to spare ...
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Is it acceptable to lie that one is Jewish because it might be embarassing for people to know you are not Jewish?
If you know the answer to this, I'd like to know where your answer is sourced and where I can learn more about it.
Furthermore, if the person claims embarrassment, how do we know that this is not just ...
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Is taarof allowed?
In Persian culture, there is a principle named taarof in which if something is being offered to you, you must decline it, even if you want it. The giver will ask again if you would like the object but ...
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Is there a source for the claim that a dishonest person cannot do teshuvah?
If I recall correctly, I remember someone saying in a shiur a long time ago that a dishonest person cannot do teshuvah. Is there any source for this claim?
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Why deception seems intrinsic to Terah's descendants?
The last couple of Parashot dealt with members of Abraham's family, both Abraham and Nachor's descendants. As far as I can see, many of them, both righteous and wicked, were liers: it starts with ...
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May we always deceive deceivers?
The Tanach says [referring to God]:
עִם־נָבָ֖ר תִּתָּבָ֑ר וְעִם־עִקֵּ֖שׁ תִּתַּפָּֽל׃ -- With the pure You act in purity, and with the perverse You are wily. [2 Samuel 22:27 and Ps. 18:27]”
Does ...
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What is the halacha about lying to a Non-Jew?
Can one lie to a non Jewish person?
If the answer is Yes, are there certain cases where you can't?
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Why wasn't Avraham lying when he said "Eloh-im yireh lo haseh li-ola, bni"?
When Avraham was going with Yitzchok to the Akaida.
As far as Avraham knew at the moment, there was no lamb. So the answer to Yitzchok's question should have been that there will be no lamb for the ...
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Is one allowed to say that a girl is simpleminded when giving shidduch information? [closed]
If a person is trying to help another make a shidduch (assist in arranging a potential marriage), they may know that a particular boy would be looking for a smart girl. If the person has information ...
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What criteria allow one to lie to a spouse?
In this week's Torah parsha, Vayeira, in Breishit 18:13, Saying
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֑ם לָ֣מָּה זֶּה֩ צָחֲקָ֨ה שָׂרָ֜ה
לֵאמֹ֗ר הַאַ֥ף אֻמְנָ֛ם אֵלֵ֖ד וַאֲנִ֥י זָקַֽנְתִּי׃
Then ...
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May a Jew be an impostor on "To Tell the Truth"?
There's a general prohibition for a Jew to lie, except for specific situations such as Darchei Shalom ("to promote peace".)
"To Tell the Truth" is an old / revived U.S. television game show where 3 ...
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What is the ruling for someone who does other's assignment? [duplicate]
Assignments are meant to evaluate a students performance and a student is also graded based on the numbers that include numbers that he gets on those assignments. It is common in students that they do ...
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(How) was Joshua allowed to trick Achan?
In Sanhedrin 43b it says that Joshua tells Achan that if he confesses he will be pardoned (והיפטר). Rashi explains that Joshua verbally deceived Achan into confessing, making Achan think he would not ...
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Is lying about the blessings of Hashem considered a sin?
Say that a Jew is speaking with another Jew and trying to convince them they should be more observant. During his argument, he states that his life has improved tremendously since he became more ...
user15672
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Is there anything wrong with correcting your Rabbi in front of other people?
If your Rabbi tells you something about Torah and you know that he is incorrect, and this has happened in the past and the Rabbi admitted his mistake, are you then allowed to correct the Rabbi if a ...
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Eidim Zomemim in a case of seeing a new moon
As discussed in Maseches Rosh Hashanah, if two witnesses saw the new moon, they'd go to Beis Din to testify they saw it and Beis Din would then declare when Rosh Chodesh would be.
But what if these ...
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Is writing essays for someone else a sin?
I know the title of this question sounds perhaps irrelevant and absurd but let me explain my question as it concerns Halakhah and Torah laws.
My non-Jewish friend works as a freelance writer. ...
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Lying on Websites
Is there any halachic issue with lying on websites? For example, if a site requires you to be 21 and asks, “Are you over 21?” And you're not, but select “yes”. Is there any problem with doing so?
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Is it a sin to deceive one's converting Beis Din?
I am asking about the situation about a convert-in-progress who lies at some point during the conversion process, either--more to-the-point--in response to the prefatory questions about personal ...
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What are the requirements for Gentiles to listen to a Jewish prophet?
Follow-up to my previous question relating to false prophets:
Devarim 18:18-22 says that one is required to listen to a true prophet but not a false prophet.
Do these laws apply to Gentiles? I am ...
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YouTube Videos with False Titles
Would Halacha consider making YouTube videos and putting false titles, with lies, and making money off of the videos, stealing or lying? For example, if you make a video, “How to Get a Free iPhone” ...
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Is it permitted to use a pseudonym
Using a pen name or a pseudonym in writing letters to the editor or essays or a book might seem like lying.
Is it Halachically permissible?
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Lying to receive money
Is a ben Noah allowed to lie to a Christian in order to get money from him? Or is it considered as stealing ?
Edit: I've got an answer from a rabbi, who said it's prohibited since it is like ...
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How does one resolve/repent from cheating on a test (exam)?
According to R' Moshe Feinstein as cited in this answer, cheating on a school test/examination can be considered theft from a future employer. E.g. if you get the degree by cheating on a math test, ...
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Which religious texts cause some Jews to focus and worship the material gains in this life (creation) rather than to Hashem (the creator)? [closed]
Please see this article in Asbury Park Press regarding welfare fraud by rabbis.
Also, years ago when Christy was a NJ state prosecutor there was another roundup of rabbis in a New Jersey corruption ...
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Can you lie to a terminally ill child?
The torah commands us to distance from a false thing. I would like to know if any halachic authorities have discussed whether or not this commandment may be put aside when dealing with a terminally ...
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What's the Halacha on Kohanim that lie to marry converts or divorcees?
What's the Halacha on Kohanim that lie to marry converts or divorcees?
Are they permanently unable to regain their status if they divorced the forbidden relationship or are they able to regain ...
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Why did God tell Moses to demand from Pharaoh that the Israelites leave for only three days? [duplicate]
God told Moses to demand from Pharaoh that the Israelites be able to leave Egypt for three days to worship God (Exodus 3:18). Why didn't God tell Moses to demand from Pharaoh that the Hebrews be freed ...
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שקר and שוא The difference between
What's the difference between these 'falses' (שקר and שוא?), how does one distinguish them from one another?
Exodus 20:16: עד שקר
Exodus 23:1: שמע שוא
Exodus 23:7: שקר
Deuteronomium 5:20: עד שוא
...
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Can i lie about voting? [closed]
I would like my wife and children to appreciate the importance of being a responsible citizen and voting. However, I do not want to waste my own time going to vote because it will take away time from ...
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Why do we kill a navi sheker?
Why does the Torah command us to kill a navi sheker (false prophet)? Shouldn't we attempt to find help for the fellow by directing him to seek psychiatric help?
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Is one allowed to lie to *possibly* preserve peace?
The Gemara in Yevamos (65a) proves from various sources that one may lie, or at least tell a half-truth, to preserve peace, at least regarding the past. (See here for more on that Gemara.)
Now, in ...
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R' Yehoshua and the Athenian Elders: The mule's debt, the rotting salt, and the field of swords
This is part of a series of questions on the Gemara in Bechoros 8b-9a. Below is a summary of the relevant parts of the Gemara. After being challenged by Caesar, R' Yehoshua went to Athens to defeat ...
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Lying to avoid embarrassment
Say a person overslept and missed Shacharis, and someone asked him what happened. Is he allowed to lie and say that he Davened somewhere else.
Say someone's caught doing something embarrassing in ...
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Can a friend assist someone in his lie?
Answers to this question state that one may lie / alter the truth for the sake of Shalom.
Can your friend assist you in your lie?
Let's say a close friend accidentally injured you, and you have a ...
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Is there a problem with lying?
Is lying per se forbidden? If not, are there circumstances under which (certain lies) are forbidden? On what grounds?
What about:
If you have a good enough reason to lie (e.g. for the sake of a ...
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"Cheating" on a test
Here's the case:
It is possible to acquire a test given by a teacher the previous year. Said teacher gave the test back to the students, and a student passed it along to someone in the year below. It ...
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Scheduling Email for 3AM and Gneivas Daas
Is is permitted to schedule an email for the wee hours of the night, like 3AM, to give the impression that you were working late?
Is it significantly well known that there are services like ...
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Ethics of survey studies with a false premise
This morning I received a blast email in a group of which I'm a member, offering for free to the first taker a set of items I have never had, nor do I think I will ever have, interest in owning. I ...
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Are "clickbait" links permissible?
Wikipedia defines "clickbait" as follows:
Clickbait is a pejorative term describing web content that is aimed at generating online advertising revenue, especially at the expense of quality or ...
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Is sarcasm a violation of the 9th commandment?
Is talking sarcastically with a friend as an innocent joke (not intending to offend him or bother him) a transgression of the ninth commandment, Don't lie (לא תענה)?
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Bais Yosef's magid/angel tricked him?
I heard (in a few dvar Torahs, though I can't find them now) that the Bais Yosef had recorded that his magid (the angel that taught him) had tricked him, and something like "from this we know that ...
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Didn't Joseph's brothers volunteer information about their family?
When Judah tells Jacob that Benjamin must be brought to Egypt if the family is to purchase more grain, Jacob asks his sons why they had to mention the existence of a younger brother. Their response is ...
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Is cheating in a test an Averah?
I'm a student and I recently asked myself if cheating in a test is an Averah. I've always believed it obviously is, but after thinking it through I can't think of a specific Averah that would include ...
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Somebody named "Cohen" who is not a kohen: should he change his name?
My question has to do with deception, and concerns whether or not a person needs to change his name. (I'm not thinking of a specific person, and don't require a psak).
For the sake of an argument, ...
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Is it permissible to cheat at board games?
Board games have absolutely no value - there is nothing won and nothing lost.
In such a situation is it permissible according to halakhah to cheat?
I am asking, not to find a reason to be deceitful ...
user3342
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Is it allowed to feign being a Muslim to protect one's GPA?
I am currently studying Arabic in university and have the following question:
If it is known that the Arabic Language Studies department at a particular school is vehemently anti-Israel and anti-...
user3342
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Why was Kalev allowed to lie to his co-spies?
Rashi on Numbers 14:24:1:
רוח אחרת.
My translation:
A different spirit (intention)
"Two spirits. One verbal and another in his heart. To the spies he said, "I am with you regarding your counsel", ...
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