פרשת משפטים
In this week’s parsha we are admonished to be people of truth and distance ourselves from falsehood. The Torah cries out, “Distance yourself from the matter of a lie.” The Sforno says that this prohibition even includes anything that might bring about an untruth. The Torah is adamant that we stay away from what is false. However, it is interesting to note the Torah’s emphasis on “distancing ourselves” from such behavior. Why doesn’t the Torah just tell us to not lie, just as we are told not to steal, murder, etc.? Why must we “distance” ourselves? Nowhere else in the Torah do we see such language. Why here?
According to Rav Chaim Friedlander, the Torah tells us to stay away from falsehood specifically because we don’t know how much it is a part of us. Although he may be not cognizant of it, if a person would focus on every detail of his behavior, he would be shocked to see how dishonest he really is. For instance, when someone tells a story about themselves, do they tell it as it happened? Or do they embellish the details? Whether a person is insecure and needs validation or whether it just isn’t convenient or fun to recall things as they happened, this phenomena is very common. Another common example of times we can find ourselves lying is when it is embarrassing to admit how we spent our day. When asked, we may feel the need to add a few details in order to sound impressive. People who learn in yeshiva are especially aware of how easy it is to lie. Often times we say things that we don’t even believe just because we’re afraid of having a confrontation with the text in front of us. So often we just can’t handle the truth and sometimes it even feels liberating to break away from it. Therefore, the Torah directs us as to how we must act if we want to become people of truth. We must get away from sheker. Far, far away. Unlike other sins, falsehood consistently entices us. The only way to fight is flight. A person must constantly be on guard and push himself if he wants to triumph in this area. This is the only way a human being can become a true person of truth.
Rav Yechezkel Levinshtein asserts that although it is challenging to become a person of truth, such an accomplishment is within everyone’s reach. The Midrash in Breishis Rabba 8:5 brilliantly illustrates this point by chronicling a debate that took place during Creation. Chesed said man should be created because he would be a creature that does chesed. Emes differed, arguing that man was full of falsehood. Tzedakos voted in favor of man, arguing that man is generous, while Shalom voted against man because of the incredible chaos that he causes. However, Hashem decided in favor of man, throwing Emes to the ground. All the angels looked on in shock, astounded at Hashem’s denigration of Emes. “How can You act in such a way towards the truth?” the angels asked. Hashem answered that His decision to throw Emes to the ground was for the good. Once truth was on Earth, it would be accessible to all who wanted it. Rav Yechezkel maintains that the truth is closer to us than we think and even though it may not be in our nature, we are very capable of reaching high levels in our commitment to emes. For example, in Kelm, when one would ask for the time, the standard reply would not be an approximation. It would be the exact time, down to the second. We, too, are able to do the same.
To inspire ourselves to strive for truth, we should know that if we would fully commit ourselves to self-integrity, it could change our entire existence. When a person always tells the truth, every word that comes out of his becomes powerful and important. Imagine a Jew who only speaks the truth and believes in every word that he says. Krias Shema, for instance, would be a completely different experience. G-d’s existence would be palpable to such a person. If we appreciated the words we said in every bracha, how could we go on living normally? Imagine a person truly beseeching Hashem and proclaiming that he is dependent on Him for all his sustenance. Could such a sincere person have problems in emuna when his business seems to go awry? Even though such a commitment is a lot to ask for, I believe that a person should still take a little time out of his day to review his actions and think about where he is succeeding in living up to the truth and where he is failing. We mere mortals are filled with inadequacies, especially in this area. It may take some time to be the people of truth Hashem wants us to be.
A big gevir went to visit Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach. He told Rav Shlomo Zalman that he intended to make a generous donation of 60,000 Lira to take a collel family out of poverty. “Perhaps,” asked the gevir, “the Rav may know a family worth donating to?” Rav Shlomo Zalman told the gevir that he would think about it and proceeded to call up Rav Yitzhak Shlomo Zilberman, who was responsible for the entire Zilberman school system in Eretz Yisrael. Rav Yitzhak Shlomo had 21 children and the family was mired in poverty. Rav Auerbach shared the gevir’s proposition with Rav Zilberman, excited about the incredible opportunity this offered for Rav Yitzhak Shlomo and his family. However, Rav Yitzhak Shlomo wanted to think the offer over. Incredibly, a short time later, Rav Yitzhak Shlomo called Rav Shlomo Zalman back to tell him that he had to decline the offer. In truth, his family needed 85,000 Lira to completely emerge from poverty. The gevir was only offering 60,000. To take the money would be dishonest. The gevir intended to take a collel family completely out of poverty. For Rav Yitzhak Shlomo’s family, this wouldn’t be enough. Therefore, due to Rav Yitzhak Shlomo’s dedication to the truth, the deal didn’t go through and the money went to another family. However, Rav Yitzhak Shlomo never regretted his decision and perhaps it was in the merit of his commitment to the truth that all of his sons became incredible talmidei chachamim.
May we all be zoche to stay true to the truth!!!