Szaaloth-Utszabot, The Book of Jore Dia 17

No, We're Not Required to Lie About Our Books

The Quote

“A Jew should and must make a false oath when the Goyim asks if our books contain anything against them.”

Szaaloth-Utszabot, The Book of Jore Dia 17

The Reality

This is a non-existent quote in a likely non-existent book.

The words “Szaaloth-Utszabot” is likely to mean “Sha’alos U’teshuvos.”  In English, that translates to “Questions and Answers” which would likely make this a book of responsa.  However, there is no indication as to who the author is, when it was published or any other verifiable information.  

Jore Dia (Yoreh Deah) is a real book — it is one of the four sections of the Shulchan Aruch, a widely respected tome of Jewish law, published by Rabbi Yosef Karo in 1563.  That would make the title of the work being quoted here as “Questions and Answers on Yoreh Deah.”

There are literally hundreds of books of responsa on Jewish law, covering Yoreh Deah and the other sections of the Shulchan Aruch.  As a result, without further information, it is virtually impossible to track down this quote.  However, one good indication that this is false is that it references Chapter 17 of Yoreh Deah.  Chapter 17 of Yoreh Deah deals with the laws of slaughtering an animal that is near death.  It has absolutely nothing to do with oaths, non-Jews, or any other books of Jewish law.  

Summary:

A made up quote from a made up book.