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The Shaarei Teshuvah (ibid., #181) explains that one is permitted 1 SuMMaRy and Conclusion 20818_efi-ab - 20818_efi-ab | 9 - B | 18-08-20 | 13:29:02 | SR:-- | Magenta 20818_efi-ab - 20818_efi-ab | 9 - B | 18-08-20 | 13:29:02 | SR:-- | Cyan 20818_efi-ab - 20818_efi-a
to alter the truth for the sake of peace or the public good only if the
untruth does not cause harm to others, like in the case of Sarah Im- The daughter should reprimand her father and not worry about the
meinu, and like those who posed a halachic question to Rav. Lies of loss of her livelihood.
this nature are prohibited only as faulty character traits, and therefore
our Sages decreed that for the sake of peace one is allowed to make
use of this bad trait, just as, in order to educate his son, one can dis-
play anger and haughtiness.
Thus, frightening merchants into lowering their prices with words
of untruth is a Torah prohibition. The Torah refers to this sort of
harmful lie when it says “Distance yourself from falsehood.” There-
fore, although it seems justified for the public benefit to find a way to
induce the merchants to lower their prices, nevertheless, one cannot
violate a Torah prohibition, even for this worthy purpose.
Now we can better understand the Ritva’s question: How could
Shmuel have deceived the merchants and frightened them with a lie?
The Torah prohibits deceit that causes a loss to another even if one 20818_efi-ab - 20818_efi-ab | 9 - B | 18-08-20 | 13:29:02 | SR:-- | Magenta
does not sully one’s lips with an outright lie in order to achieve the #20818_efi-ab - 20818_efi-ab | 9 - B | 18-08-20 | 13:29:02 | SR:-- | Yellow 20818_efi-ab - 20818_efi-ab | 9 - B | 18-08-20 | 13:29:02 | SR:-- | Black 2081
purpose. As explained in maseches Shevuos (31a): A teacher tells his
disciple, “You know I would never lie, not even for a hundred maneh
of money. It’s just that I have money to collect from so-and-so, but I
have only one witness. I want you to come to the beis din when I sue
him and just stand next to the witness without saying a word. It will
appear to the defendant that I have two witnesses against him, and
he will confess.” It is prohibited for the disciple to do as his teacher
requests, concludes the Gemara.



Is one obligated to prevent a friend from copying
answers in an exam

1 Question

An excellent student sat near someone who wanted to copy his
answers during an exam. The student did not know what to do. By

268 1 Medical-HalacHic Responsa of Rav ZilbeRstein Speaking about one’s father 2 265