Q&A: A halakhic ruling that is not taught publicly.
A halakhic ruling that is not taught publicly.
Question
Hello Rabbi!
I have heard the Rabbi more than once express opposition to any lie of any kind.
What is the Rabbi's view regarding the concept of "a halakhic ruling that is not taught publicly"? (Maimonides rules in the Laws of the Foundations of the Torah that when people demand that someone be handed over to be killed, it is forbidden to hand over anyone; but if there is someone who is liable for death, then in principle it is permitted (or required) to hand him over, yet Maimonides says: it is the law, but it is not taught publicly.)…?
Answer
That is not correct. I am certainly against expanding the permissions to lie, and against "holy lies," but I do not deny that there are situations in which one may lie. There is also a difference between a situation in which the Oral Torah was transmitted orally and today, when everything is written down and cannot be concealed.
Discussion on Answer
Aside from very exceptional cases, if any.
I'm really sorry if I'm being a pest. But does the Rabbi have a clear definition of when yes and when no?
The definition is no different from what it was in the past: when it is genuinely useful and not likely to be discovered. The question is when it is useful and when it will not be discovered—which nowadays is significantly less likely.
A. So today, does the concept of "a halakhic ruling that is not taught publicly" no longer exist?