Cheating

Along the lines of bizarre questions, R. Shmuel Wosner (Shevet Ha-Levi, vol. 10 no. 163) was asked the following question by the principal of a seminary in Israel. The principal had instituted punishments for students caught cheating and parents had objected to this, labelling it wickedness (rish'us). Obviously searching for a higher authority to defend his stance, the principal asked R. Wosner whether students are allowed to cheat in school. For those who will read no further, know that he answered a resoundng "No!" His answer:

I will say briefly that I am surprised that there is any doubt on this matter. How is it possible to think that this may be done, expecially in an educational framework? It is a simple matter of halakhah that this constitutes misleading (geneivas da'as) and involves the prohibition of "you shall not lie" and the commandment to distance oneself from lying (cf. Shevu'os 31). This also includes a certain level of, and a habituation towards, trickery. About this the prophet said, "They trained their tongues to lie..." (Jer. 9:4). Cf. Sukkah 46b; Yevamos 63a how far these matters extend in education.

This also leads to stumbling in the future through the concealment of truth in the (fake) marks if these students require a job or continuing education. Those accepting these students will consider them to be experts when they are not. This causes distinct financial damage to those employers and to others.

Above all else is the damage to these students' character through the habituation away from truth. This is among the great stumbling-blocks of this generation. But the truth is beloved above all...

The real surprise is that this responsum, like all the rest printed in the volume, contains the address and title of the correspondent, including the name of the school of which he is the principal.