Can you trust a rabbi? TB Baba Metzia 24

Can you trust a rabbi? Daf TB Baba Metzia 24 teaches it depends on the circumstances and the rabbi. Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar taught if one finds a brand-new vessel, he is not obligated to proclaim his find because the owner hasn’t used it long enough for him clearly to identify it. Even if this new vessel does not have a distinguishing mark and a rabbi is certain that it is his, the rabbi is believed and the vessel is returned to him. If the rabbi is not certain that the new vessel is his, it is not returned to him. A rabbi may tell a little white lie in three specific circumstances. But if he is a perpetual liar, don’t believe him.

“When the eye of a Torah scholar has not sufficiently seen them, he is not certain about them, and we do not return a lost item to him, as Rav Yehuda says that Shmuel says: With regard to these three matters alone, it is normal for Sages to amend their statements and deviate from the truth: With regard to a tractate, if he is asked whether he studied a particular tractate, he may humbly say that he did not, even if he did (He did not want to sound arrogant; however, if someone is in need of a teacher, Tosefot ד"ה במסכת writes that the rabbi should be forthcoming-gg). And with regard to a bed, if he is asked whether he slept in a particular bed, he may say that he did not, to avoid shame in case some unseemly residue is found on the bed (in other words for modesty sake-gg)

“And he can lie with regard to a host [ushpiza], as one may say that he was not well received by a certain host to prevent everyone from taking advantage of the host’s hospitality. What is the practical difference that emerges from this statement with regard to matters in which Torah scholars deviate from the truth? Mar Zutra says: The practical difference is with regard to returning a lost item on the basis of visual recognition. If we know about him that he alters his statements only with regard to these three matters, we return the lost item to him, but if he alters his statements with regard to other matters, we do not return the lost item to him.” (dappim 23b-24a, Sefaria.org translation)

Unfortunately rabbis are human and some lie, cheat, and steal as the next story shows. “The Gemara relates: A silver goblet was stolen from the host of Mar Zutra Ḥasida. All saw a certain student of Torah who washed his hands and dried them on the cloak of another. Mar Zutra said: This is the one who does not care about the property of another. He bound that student, and the student then confessed that he stole the goblet.” (Sefaria.org translation)

What exactly did Mar Zutra do? The Rosh explains that he lashed him until he confessed and returned the goblet. The Shita Mekubetzet writes that Mar Zutra threatened to excommunicate and that did the trick.

Regrettably we know from today’s headlines Jewish newspapers somethings never change.