Emes L’Yakov (Bereishis 27:12) My father perhaps will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. Our Sages called our forefathers yeshorim (straight and honest). And that is why Sefer Bereishis is referred by our Sages as Sefer HaYashor. The explanation is that they lived before the Giving of the Torah so how did they know how to behave? It is because as it states in Koheles (7:29) that G-d made Man inherently Yashar (honest). Thus they were able to fulfill the requirement of the Torah even before it was given. This is also expressed by saying Derech Eretz preceded the Torah. So while the Torah has laws that don’t make sense to the human mind, man’s intellect is inherently ethical. Thus our forefathers fulfilled the Torah because they inherently understood the ethical and moral way to act. This reality makes what Yakov did in order to receive the Berachos all the more difficult to understand since it was far from being ethical behavior. It is even more difficult as Yakov was especially concerned with Truth. We learn from this a major principle regarding the nature of truth. We note that Yakov’s behavior in this matter is described by Onkelos as wisdom . The explanation is that the truth is dependent on deliberate calculation and isn’t simple right or wrong. For example if Reuven is being pursued to be killed and Shimon hides him to save his life. If the pursuer asks Shimon if he knows where Reuven is and Shimon states that he is hiding him because he doesn’t want to lie. Is this confess called the Truth? Obviously there are times when it is permissible for a person to act with cunning in order to accomplish the greater good. Therefore if one is dealing with a dangerously dishonest person such as Esav it is sometimes necessary to act with him in a sly and deceitful manner. This occurred many times to Yakov and thus his behavior in those circumstances is not a contradiction to being a truthful person. This was clearly the basis of Yakov causing his flock through the use of rods to save his flock from Lavan. Or his statement to avoid Esav. In fact we lean from Yakov’s behavior that it is permitted to make false statements to avoid being killed by a potential murderer Similarly in the case of Yakov and Shechem of the weakening of the enemy by demanding circumcision in order that they could be killed. Thus to deviate from the truth in these cases did not diminish or contradict his standing as a paragon of truth. However even though it is sometimes permitted to lie nevertheless a person should avoid making lies habitual even if they are permitted because of the danger that this might be his normal response. This is less of a problem for a talmid chachom
Gur Aryeh (Bereishis 47:29) Whatever is appropriate to be done is called True.
Michtav M’Eliyahu (I page 94): What is emes (truth) and what is sheker (lie)? At the beginning of our education our understanding is that emes (truth) is describing events as they are while sheker (lie) is deviating from this. That is correct only on the most elementary level. There are many circumstances where this definition is incorrect. There are times when it is prohibited to describe things as they are such as describing shortcomings to another when there is no benefit or need. Sometimes in fact one actually needs to alter the description from the facts when the truth is not only not beneficial but is harmful. In such a case that which appears to be true is in fact a lie because it produces bad consequences and that which appears to be a lie brings the goal of emes. We see in fact that emes is that which brings to the good and fulfills that which G d wants. …Yaakov's deception of Esav therefore was revealed to be G d's desire and thus we see from the Torah sheker (lie) done for the sake of emes (truth) is in fact emes (truth).
A fair attempt, but a few problems I have with this post:
ReplyDelete1) The rabbis will tell us that the Avot kept the entire Torah, even rabbinical law. (of course that is false, but it is the official line). But when it suits, then they didn't even have the Torah.
2) The deception was not so much against Esav, but against Yitzhak, since Esav knew immediately what took place.
3) This plan was not concocted by Yaakov as such, but by his mother Rivka. So it is not about Yakov being deceptive, but about him struggling between his own intuitive truth [prophecy] and his respect for his mum. In fact, the verse cited above spells this out very clearly:
"and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing."
4) The article is claiming that at times we have to be deceptive dealing with rashaim. True, but Yitzhak had a bigger picture, he was working on grooming Esav to be the strong man who will protect Israel. This has to some extent happened with American christianity today, which backs Israel, albeit not with pure motive.
5) Why should Yaakov accept honoring one parent to the detriment of the other parent?
6) Despite the "ends justifying the means" argument brought above, this appears to be false, both empirically if you read the history of Israel in the Torah after this point, Yaakov lives a miserable life and is deceived by his sons. and he knew it all along that his mother's advice, be it well intended, was dangerous - "and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing."
"Michtav M’Eliyahu (I page 94): What is emes (truth) and what is sheker (lie)?"
ReplyDeleteThis is ironically published in English as "strive for truth"
Whereas in fact it is a manifesto for sheker.
R dessler was and still is a big influence on hareidi (and even modern orthodox)all this does is to give a hechsher to the dishonesty of people who are frum rabbis.
Actually, Garnel, this was the point when I gave up on the book.
It took me quite a few years more to realise that it goes beyond just one author.
I've always had this issue with conflict of interest in halakha.
ReplyDeleteThe halakha exempts talmidei chachamim from community duties and taxes. Who said? Um, the talmidei chachamim. But according to Gur Aryeh (Bereishis 47:29) Whatever is appropriate to be done is called True, well then since they deemed it appropriate it must be true. But then there's still that conflict.
The gist of the story is that anything is justified if they see fit. It's Machiavelli and shabbetai zvi combined
DeleteIsaiah Ch 5
Delete20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that change darkness into light, and light into darkness; that change bitter into sweet, and sweet into bitter!
R' dessler (and the hareidi establishment)
Sometimes in fact one actually needs to alter the description from the facts when the truth is not only not beneficial but is harmful. In such a case that which appears to be true is in fact a lie because it produces bad consequences and that which appears to be a lie brings the goal of emes.
Breslov praising Rabbi Dessler! https://breslev.com/259782/
ReplyDeleteJust recently a major breslov figure was caught raping 3 of his own daughters...