Years ago, I had a friend who avoided the army by getting a signed letter from a psychologist that he is crazy. It wasn't just that he lied - he wasn't embarrassed and didn't feel guilty at all. He seemed proud of it. In all cultures, lying is considered wrong and looked down upon. It is also against Halacha. Yet - it didn't seem to bother him in the slightest.
Fast forward about 20 years. This friend lives in America and wanted to come for a visit. But it is hard to get in. True to form, he told the authorities that his wife and children want to get Israeli citizenship and that is the reason for his trip. A lie. But they believed him and he got in. He has no בושה to tell people what he did.
Everybody lies. Let's face it. Now is Rosh Chodesh Elul. Isn't it a GREAT TIME to work on our middas ha'emes????? Do teshuva for the past and be better in the future. It is no coincidence that we start Yom Kippur w/ כל נדרי bringing home the point how important it is to speak truthfully.
Let's start being careful to speak the truth.
