DEUT609 The Jew must follow in the ways of God [this verse]. The Talmud (Midrash, Sifra, Shabbat 133, Sotah 14a) says that man must imitate God's traits, and just as God is truthful, we must be truthful. This is the biblical basis for the practical laws about not gossiping or not speaking untruths about someone else (Sefer Shmirat Halashon, Introduction, Positive Commandment #14). Therefore, with all the talmudic discussions about lying, except for the case of the beautiful bride, there is no Jewish law recorded that a person is allowed to lie to keep the peace or for any other reason. There is one exception to this statement, which will prove the rule. The Talmud (Bava Metzia 23b) says that a Torah scholar is permitted to lie in three areas: in the tractate he is learning, in his sexual habits, and in his house of lodging. Thus, in order not to embarrass himself or his host, the Torah scholar can tell a lie if asked about these three areas. This is the only situation that is brought down in actual Jewish law, both by Maimonides (Hilchot Gezeilah Ve'aaveidah 14:13) and by Rabbi Karo (Shulchan Aruch, Choshen Mishpat 262:21)... Why is this so? Because while it might be technically and biblically permitted to tell half-truths in nonlegal situations, Judaism could not permit this "loophole" to be used by the common person in an everyday situation. Everyone would take advantage of it and misuse it, much the same way that people lie today in American society.... A Jew should always try to tell the truth, whether in a courtroom situation or a social situation, as we cannot hope to differentiate between a "permissible" lie and a "prohibited" life.