Q&A: Widow
Widow
Question
There is a widow who lives near my parents’ house, and my mother became friendly with her (mainly because the widow was looking for companionship) over the years. A few times she invited her for Sabbath meals (out of compassion and concern for the orphan and the widow), and now she keeps calling my mother to come for Sabbath meals all the time. It has already become burdensome, and my father doesn’t want her to come, and there are arguments (not small ones) between my father and mother about it (stupid arguments happen too). So now, for the sake of peace in the home, am I allowed to lie to that widow and brush her off by saying that it’s impossible to invite her because of various constraints (all of it a lie, of course), etc.? Even though she’ll be hurt and she’ll be lonely, and she may realize that they’re just stringing her along?
Answer
Certainly it is allowed. One may alter the truth for the sake of peace.
Discussion on Answer
There is no obligation. But it is certainly proper. If it is very hard for him, then he should make his own calculation. You can’t lay down hard-and-fast rules here. For example, you could try organizing a few families to share the responsibility.
Do you see an obligation to invite this widow (from my father’s standpoint) every Sabbath when she asks, assuming she has nowhere else to be for the Sabbath?