Keeping Far from Falsehood
29. If someone has bought a poor-quality item and can no longer return it, one should not tell them about its defects or inflated price. One may speak only of its merits and what a good purchase it was, to make them happy.
30. The Sages teach that one should always try to say pleasant things to people and praise them for good qualities, even if they do not yet possess those qualities. Such conduct allows people to grow closer and rejoice together. (It is believed that this is precisely what awakens and strengthens good aspirations in a person much more quickly.)
31. It is permitted to distort certain facts or make up stories in order to comfort another person during a difficult moment.
**** Once, while Mrs. Rubina was shopping, a wallet containing seven hundred shekels was stolen from her bag. She was very upset and remembered it for many years. One fine day, she received a letter. In it, the former thief wrote about his difficult life and how much he regretted what had happened. In conclusion, he said that he had begun observing the mitzvot and had therefore decided to return the money to its owner. The envelope contained banknotes totaling seven hundred shekels.
In fact, the letter had been written by a close relative of Mrs. Rubina’s. She knew that the incident with the wallet was still causing her distress and wanted to help her.
32. It is permitted to alter information when telling someone about the death of loved ones or other distressing events.
33. It is permitted to take the blame in order to spare another person disgrace.
**** After the Second World War, a new, high-quality, beautifully produced edition of the Talmud was published in the United States with the support of the Schlesinger brothers. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein saw it in a store and immediately bought it.
Once, during a meal, the rabbi had to leave urgently, and he left his book on the table. One of the students accidentally knocked the inkwell, spilling ink onto the cover of the new book. The student was very upset and did not know what to do. When Rav Moshe returned to the table and saw the damaged volume of the Talmud, he smiled and said that blue was his favorite color, and now the book looked even better. He sat down at the table and continued studying as though nothing had happened.