Lying to Gentiles by Jews - accepted practice?

[LSK]

A Catholic friend of mine says the practice of lying to gentiles, by Jews, is the same as the practice of lying to infidels. He says he is reading through the Talmud and he cited the book Torah to Kabbalah a Basic Introduction R.c. musaph andriesse.

Can you shed light on this for me?

Thank you and God Bless

 

[Fr.Charles_Grondin]

Due to persecutions and times of war Jewish relations with Gentiles sometimes were rather strained. The fact that some figures supported lying or deceiving groups that want to persecute or annihilate them shouldn’t be surprising.

However, outside of extreme times of persecution and war the Jewish tradition most certainly does not say that Jews can lie to Gentiles.

Talmud Chullin 94a

As Shmuel said: It is forbidden to deceive anyone, even an idolatrous gentile.

Maimonides, Commentary to the Mishnah, Keilim 12:7

And similiarly, lies, tricks, subterfuges, cheatings, and circumventions of gentiles are forbidden. They said [as quoted above] ‘It is forbidden to deceive anyone, even an idolatrous gentile’ and even more so when it can lead to the desecration of G-d’s name. For that is a great sin and imbues in a person bad traits. And all these wicked actions G-d explained that He will be disgusted with them and with those who perform them, as it says: (Deuteronomy 18:12) “For anyone who does these is an abomination of G-d.”

Moses of Coucy, Semag Asayim no. 82

We have already explained concerning the remnant of Israel that they are not to deceive any one whether Christian or Muslim. Thus, the Holy One, Blessed be He, scatters Israel among the nations so that proselytes shall be gathered unto them; so long as they behave deceitfully toward them (non-Jews), who will cleave to them? Jews should not lie either to a Jew or to a gentile, nor mislead them in any matter.

For further reading I recommend the website The Real Truth About The Talmud.