"B e wholehearted with Hashem your G-d.” (Devarim 18:13)

A lot of mitzvos are included in this pasuk. One is that a person is expected to be consistent in his actions and not contradict himself. When a person displays hypocritical behavior there are serious claims made against him.

Tosafos in Chullin (121b) says that the contradiction between one statement of a talmid chacham and a different statement he made is the hardest type of difficulty to resolve. So too with a person’s behavior. (Rav Aharon Kotler Mishnas Rav Aharon)

“It’s a simple break. As simple as a broken femur can be.”

I glanced at the huge cast on Gail’s leg. “Doesn’t look too simple to me.”

“Well that’s what the doctor claims. He hopes to have me up and running in six weeks.”

“What are you going to do about the steps in your building?” Gail lived a few buildings away from me several flights up without an elevator.

“Who knows? I’m just happy I’m in one piece. One minute I’m crossing the pedestrian crosswalk and the next minute I’m in an ambulance. Never a dull moment.…”

That’s Gail — upbeat with a humorous line even when talking about a car plowing into her.

“Did they arrest the guy?”

Here she frowned clearly uneasy. “The insurance company’s dealing with it. I don’t want to be involved in that part.”

Similarly the Gemara says (Taanis 4a): A talmid chacham must be as strong as iron otherwise he’s not a talmid chacham. Since he’ll need to defend his position he can’t lack conviction otherwise there’ll be contradictions in his actions. (ibid.)

I was visiting Gail when her lawyer stopped by. It was hard for her to move around so I served coffee while her lawyer spread papers across the dining table.

“So Mrs. Adler we’ve got this guy dancing. Yessiree. We’re lucky we have so many witnesses. This guy’s sweating so hard — which is exactly where we want him. He’s lucky we’re not hauling him into criminal court on attempted manslaughter due to negligence.

“But we’ll get him out of court. Now here’s the first set of documents you need to sign. I’ll keep you updated each step of the way. I don’t want you to worry about anything. This is a clean-cut case. Yessiree.”

In Unesaneh Tokef we say “And the hand of each person is signed in it.”

At the time of justice a person will admit and recognize all his actions. As it says in Eiruvin (19a): The resha’im in Gehinnom say “You’ve judged us well; this is the will of Hashem.”

Each person acknowledges that Hashem’s behavior with him is just. Yet despite recognizing this truth before he sins he sins anyway. Therefore not only is he guilty of the actual sin he’s also accused of the contradiction within his actions. (ibid.)

Gail took the stack of papers the lawyer handed her. Trying to understand the complicated legal terms she read softly aloud commenting as she went.

“Workers’ compensation. Okay. Physical therapy for 12 months? I thought my doctor said six weeks. Post-traumatic stress? Whiplash? Pain compensation? How does one compensate pain? Emotional disturbance and loss of security?”

The list continued; finally she raised her eyes to the lawyer. “I didn’t experience half these things.”

“Sure you did. You just went through surgery.”

“True but not marital distress lost earning capacity children’s therapeutic services.…”

“Mrs. Adler you were gravely hurt in this incident. Anything listed there is but a fraction of the claims you can legally make. As I said this man’s lucky he’s not being charged with attempted manslaughter.”

“Look I don’t mind him paying for medical bills and even for the cleaning lady I have until the cast comes off. But that’s it. The rest of the claims are simply not true. I’m not suffering from PTS or marital stress. My employer is paying my sick leave and we can leave it at that.”

“But it doesn’t matter if these things aren’t true. They can be true and you may be suffering from them and he should pay.”

Despite Gail’s weakness her voice became strong. “Mr. Brickman I appreciate your devotion to my case. But years ago I made a life-changing decision and became frum because I knew Torah was true. I’m not interested in trying to make myself financially comfortable based on untruth.” (Originally featured in Family First Issue 556)