The Talmud says, “Truth is the seal of the Holy One, blessed be He.”
Rabbi Luzzatto (1707-1746) taught “Truth is one of the very foundations upon which the world stands.”
A civilized, moral society is in danger when lies become normal and truth is ignored.
God reminds us to be “distant from falsehood” because falsehood can shake the very foundations of the world.
We have all had times where we have been less than truthful, sometimes in order to protect another’s feelings, but often when we don’t want to admit we have been wrong.
We teach our children they should always tell the truth and watch as they squirm when they’ve been caught in a lie.
It can be harder to admit mistakes as we get older, but it becomes even more important because our very society may depend on our honesty.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about honesty and the character it takes to hold to the truth and point out falsehoods.
When people refuse to accept the truth, but continue to spread lies, our society is indeed at risk, especially when the lies can be spread without facts and with a simple keystroke.
It takes effort to discern the truth.
It is so much easier to just accept information that fits our worldview, or when we don’t want to acknowledge that our own views are mistaken.
Sadly, in today’s fractured world, those who speak the truth are now enduring threats of harm or even death, making integrity and strength of character even more crucial.
It is never easy to stand against those who wish us harm for simply speaking the truth.
The Torah repeatedly teaches the importance of honesty.
Rabbi Chaim Stern points out that it is essential in a civilized society for people to be able to “live with a sense of security, knowing they will be treated fairly and honestly.”
Someone with character does the right thing, no matter the consequences.
Character
Throughout history we have seen countless people who stood up against a wrong though it may have cost them friends, family, their job, their political office or even their lives.
A person with integrity does what is right, not what is safe or what will keep them in power.
A desire to obtain or stay in power can make people lose all sense of right and wrong.
Abraham Lincoln said it well: “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”
Avraham ibn Hadai, a Jewish 11th Century Spanish philosopher, physician and political figure, explained how insidious lies can be, and warned people of faith and integrity to avoid them: “Prefer death to a lying word, for the ripple-effect of its plunder is worse.”
Adolf Hitler’s ominous words sound very familiar today: “If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed.”
Faith
All faith traditions warn us to avoid lying or bearing false witness.
The Buddhist Eightfold Path and the 10 Commandments of Judaism, Christianity and Islam all stress the importance of honesty.
The Talmud teaches that truth is the very foundation of the world, and when falsehoods are spread, we are nudging at that foundation.
The commandment against bearing false witness is clear.
One scholar’s elaboration of this commandment says it forbids: “Speaking unjustly against our neighbor, to the prejudice of his reputation, bearing false witness against him … and in any way endeavoring to raise our own reputation upon the ruin of his.”
We must be sure the words we speak about others are not an attempt to stay in power or enhance our own reputation by ruining theirs.
It would be prudent to listen to the great Jewish philosopher Maimonides (1135-1204): “Let the truth and right by which you are apparently the loser be preferable to you to the falsehood and wrong by which you are apparently the gainer.”
Let us be sure that what we say is not just something we heard that fits with what we already believe.
We must have the courage to stand up for truth, and we cannot remain silent when hatred and deceit are accepted as the lens through which we are told we must view the world.
We must be less concerned with “winners” and more with who has the honesty and integrity to always speak the truth.
The foundation of the world may depend on it.
Kein yehi ratzon … may it be God’s will.
Shalom.
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Issues of Faith is a rotating column by five religious leaders on the North Olympic Peninsula. Suzanne DeBey is a lay leader of the Port Angeles Jewish community. Her email is debeyfam@olympus.net.
