To say that someone is an ehrlicher Yid means that he
is a Jew whose standards of honesty are irreproachable and can
be trusted implicitly. Sadly, in the world today, falsehood
and corruption have so distorted our outlook that it is almost
impossible to define true honesty. Rabbi Travis, in his new
sefer, Priceless Integrity, addresses this issue and,
in a highly readable way, clarifies the obligations of a Torah-
true Jew.
According to a recent poll of 40,000 Americans, over 90
percent admit that they regularly deviate from the truth.
Honesty has simply become old-fashioned. Part of the reason
for this, explains Rabbi Travis, is that although "children
everywhere are reared on the virtues of telling the truth, in
most instances, `the truth' is conveyed as a direct repetition
of the facts. As children mature, they come to the realization
that it is impossible to live in accordance with this
definition of truth."
The Torah's stance, however, "is radically different from the
broadly accepted, generally impractical approach to this
value. The Jewish system of values takes into account the
complexity of daily life, and does not see `truth' as a mere
repetition of the facts."
Rabbi Travis' six years of advanced halacha study at
Kollel Le'asukei BeShmaitsa in Yerushalayim has given him the
necessary tools to explore the Torah's outlook on honesty with
the keen understanding of a true talmid chochom.
Through a careful analysis of Chumash Bereishis
which, Rabbi Travis points out in the preface to his
sefer is referred to as Sefer Hayoshor,
literally "The Book of Integrity," he has clearly outlined the
standards required of all Jews.
Since Priceless Integrity is composed of short, 2-3
page essays, arranged according to the parshas hashavua,
it is the perfect sefer for enriching the Shabbos
table or for reading on a Shabbos afternoon. Each self-
contained study demonstrates another aspect of what
Hakodosh Boruch Hu requires of us. Although the
sefer is appropriate for a talmid chochom, it
can be thoroughly enjoyed by a layman.
Some of the essays are absolutely amazing -- and enlightening.
In one essay, for example, Rabbi Travis discusses the validity
of using trickery to arrive at the truth and tells an
incredible story of how HaRav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach's father
deceived a woman into telling him the truth at the beis
din.
In another essay, Rabbi Travis points out that pure emes
must often be bent for the sake of another Jew's emotional
well-being, and gave us a heartwarming glimpse of how one of
the gedolei Yerushalayim was able to accomplish just
that.
And those are just two of the over one hundred topics
covered.
Each short discourse takes full advantage of a wide range of
sources to best illustrate its topic, including aggada,
midroshim, stories and halachic literature. In one study,
for example, discussing the importance of giving credit where
credit is due, Rabbi Travis noted the following sources:
Sichos Mussar by Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz, the Shulchan
Oruch, several masechtos of the gemara, Rav
Akiva Eiger, the Magen Avraham, Maharam Shick, and the
Mishna.
Rabbi Travis also wrote extensive footnotes, giving the source
of each quote and idea -- a great help for rebbes and teachers
using this sefer as a resource.
Many prominent talmidei chachamim and well known
poskim have reviewed Priceless Integrity and
given their haskomos, including HaRav Nachman Bulman,
rosh yeshiva in Ohr Somayach, Yerushalayim, as well as
rav of Kehilath Nachliel in Neve Yaakov, Yerushalayim; HaRav
Shmuel Kamenetsky, the rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; HaRav Zev Leff, rav of Moshav
Mattisyahu and rosh yeshiv Yeshiva Gedolah Matisyahu;
and HaRav Chaim Pinchos Scheinberg, rosh yeshiva Torah
Ohr in Yerushalayim.
"In these turbulent times," writes Rabbi Travis, "each person
must search and strive for ways to find favor in G-d's eyes,
in order to merit the final redemption. Through adherence to
the Torah's ideals of integrity, we pray that G-d will remove
His harsh decrees from us."
I am sure that this new addition to fine English Torah
literature will aid us in understanding, and hopefully
adhering, to these elevated Torah ideals.
