מדבר שקר תרחק (משפטים כג:ז)

A town near Stolin was searching for a reputable shochet. One day, a shochet came before the city’s Rav and presented his kashrus certification. The Rav examined him, tested his knowledge, and observed his smooth, confident handling of the knife.

Satisfied, the Rav told him that since many Stoliner Chassidim lived in the town, and he wished all the townspeople to rely on him, it would be advisable for the shochet to seek the approval of the Stoliner Rebbe, who lived nearby.

The shochet traveled to Stolin on Erev Shabbos. He reasoned that if he entered the Rebbe, then he would be expected to participate in all the Shabbos tefillos and tishen. As he was not accustomed to that, he decided to wait until Motzei Shabbos to visit the Rebbe.

On Motzei Shabbos, after waiting the amount of time it would take to travel from his home to Stolin, he went in to the Rebbe. He explained that he had come to seek the Rebbe’s approval to serve as shochet in the town.

The Stoliner Rebbe asked him, “When did you arrive in Stolin?”

“Just now,” the shochet replied.

The Rebbe said to him: “Had you told me the emes – truth, that you arrived before Shabbos but found it difficult to participate in all the tefillos and tishen, I would have given my approval, for I do not seek honor. But since a lie left your mouth, I cannot grant you approval as a shochet for that town.”