[Avodah] Deceit by omission

[Micha Berger]

On Wed, Dec 04, 2024 at 07:28:24PM -0500, Akiva Miller via Avodah wrote:
> Sometimes, a person will defend himself by saying, "No, I didn't lie; I
> just left out some things."

> Bereshis 31:20 seems to disagree: Because Yaakov failed to tell Lavan that
> he was leaving, it *does* count as Geneivas Daas.

I think there are two issurim. Leaving out elements of the truth,
or presenting the truth in a manner you know will be misunderstood is
still geneivas da'as. But they would not violate midevar sheqer tirchaq,
since you knew what you meant and it was true.

Therefore, if you need to lie mipenei darkei shalom, it is better to say
"Anokhi. Eisav bekhorekha" knowing Yitzchaq would assume Yaaqov was saying
"Anoki Eisav bererekha". (As per Rashi.) Or "Kalah na'ah vechasudah"
because in the Chasan's eyes, she certainly is no matter who she is
objectively.

Or partial truths, like Hashem repeating to Avraham what Sarah said about
her own old age, but not that she said Avraham too was too old to sire
a son.

So, not allowed, but comparatively better to have "just left out some
things".

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger                 The greatest discovery of all time is that
http://www.aishdas.org/asp   a person can change their future
Author: Widen Your Tent      by merely changing their attitude.
- https://amzn.to/2JRxnDF                 - Oprah Winfrey