Age Before Beauty: Volume 5, Issue 46, Ha'azinu

October 4, 2025; 12 Tishrei, 5786 Sponsored anonymously for the Refuah Shleimah of Yair Nissan Ben Sara

QUESTION: "My sister told someone she was fifty, though she is really 45. Afterward, she explained that people are more likely to compliment her on her youthful appearance if she claims to be older. Is it acceptable for her to do this?"

ANSWER: The question of whether your sister may lie about her age to receive compliments involves a fundamental debate about the scope of the Torah's prohibition against falsehood.

The Chofetz Chaim interprets "Midvar Sheker Tirchak" (Exodus 23:7) as a clear, sweeping Torah prohibition against lying, representing what many consider the normative Halachic position...

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Honesty and the IRS: Volume 5, Issue 45, Nitzavim

September 20, 2025; 27 Elul, 5785 Sponsored anonymously for the Refuah Shleimah of Yair Nissan Ben Sara

The trait of Emes—absolute integrity—shaped every aspect of Rav Moshe Feinstein ZT”L’s life, from his responsa to his daily conduct and character. In order to escape the military draft in Russia, he obtained a birth certificate listing him as five years older, a date that later appeared on his passport and other official documents upon arriving in the United States. Accordingly, when he reached the age of sixty-five according to the official documents, he began to receive Social Security checks. However, Rav Moshe would not take any money that he was not entitled to...

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Don't You Remind me? Volume 5, Issue 44, Ki Savo

September 13, 2025; 20 Elul, 5785 Sponsored anonymously for the Refuah Shlemah of Maayan Emunah Chaya bas Channa Leah

A wealthy individual once visited the Chofetz Chaim, stating that they had previously met and expressing confidence that the Chofetz Chaim remembered him. The Chofetz Chaim replied that he received many visitors and could not confirm that he remembered everyone. A student accompanying the Chofetz Chaim suggested to the visitor that the Chofetz Chaim did remember him but chose not to acknowledge it due to humility. The Chofetz Chaim reiterated that he did not recall the individual...

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