שקר-אמת

Shavua Tov. The בעל הטורים comments on the last letter of the first three words of the Torah, בראשית ברא אלוקים. The three letters spell the word, אמת, meaning truth. This teaches that Hashem created the world באמת, with truth. As it is written in Tehillim, ראש דברך אמת, “the beginning of your words is truth. The sin for שקר, falsehood, and the reward for אמת is so great, that the Sages of the Talmud said that חותמו של הקדוש ברוך הוא אמת, that the seal of Hashem is אמת. The term “חותם” indicates that this is a “red line” that must not be crossed. Therefore, one who is involved in שקר, in word and deed, is as if he denies מעשה בראשית, creation, and such a liar is like an idol worshipper. Rav Elazar Abuchatzeira זצ״ל added to this idea by saying that one must be truthful with himself. He should do a daily self check to analyze himself and how he is doing in serving Hashem and treating people. The שקר and אמת concepts are very serious, indeed.