In this week’s Parsha, Toldos we find a story that shapes the destiny of our people which has so often been misunderstood. It is the story of Yaakov stealing the blessings from his father Yitzchok that were intended for his brother Eisov.
In Judaism we understand that our life in this world is similar to an obstacle course in which we are given obstacles to overcome for the purpose of perfecting ourselves. The areas of personal perfection are unique to each individual. Every person has their unique mission for which they were cut out. One person’s mission may be to develop his generosity, while another person’s mission is develop his integrity. Naturally, each obstacle course will differ based on what the intended mission is.
Our father Yaakov’s outstanding quality was emes, integrity and honesty. It was this quality that HaShem wanted Yaakov to develop. The story that unfolds in our Parsha is therefore quite puzzling.
The background of the story begins with the development of the twin brothers, Yaakov and Eisov. Yaakov was a great scholar and Eisov was a man of the field – a materialist. Yaakov’s interest lay in the area of the intellect with no interest in the physical world. Eisov’s interest lay in the area of the physical with no interest in the world of the intellect. Their parents, Yitzchok and Rivka were split in their relationship towards Eisov. Although they both recognized Yaakov as being a person of great integrity and a flawless character, regarding Eisov they were not on the same page. Yitzchok had a special affection for Eisov as he recognized him as a good hard working simple honest person. Rivka, understood that Eisov’s image of being a simple honest hard worker was a front. In reality he was a scam artist and his father was his victim. She was therefore very wary of Eisov.
When Yitzchok reached his 123rd birthday he understood that it was time for him to portion out his blessings for his two boys who were now 63 years old. Yitzchok told Eisov to please go out into the field and catch a deer and prepare it for a meal that he would enjoy. At that meal he would give his blessings to Eisov. Rivka overheard this conversation and she understood that Eisov was not deserving those blessings. She understood that Yaakov should receive them and she therefore instructed Yaakov to trick his father and present himself to Yitzchok, who was blind, as Eisov and extract Eisov’s blessings for himself. Yaakov, who was the epitome of honesty was naturally reticent but nevertheless followed his mother’s orders and proceeded with the ruse.
Yaakov’s ruse succeeded and he tricked his father into giving him the blessings that were intended for Eisov but the moment Eisov arrived home Yitzchok realized that he had been tricked. What is most amazing in this entire story is that at that the moment Yitzchok discovered the ruse he immediately declared “Let Yaakov remain blessed”! What changed? A moment earlier he wanted to bless Eisov and suddenly when discovering that Yaakov tricked him he wants that Yaakov should be the recipient?!
If we read this story as a child reads a novel we will walk away thinking that our nation was built on deceit and deception. There is nothing further from the truth. Anything built upon deception cannot stand the test of time and our people, for the past 3,300 years, are most certainly standing the test of time. So let us examine this story and appreciate what transpired with an admiration for who our father Yaakov was and the expectation HaShem had set for him.
We must understand that this dispute between Yitzchok and Rivka was discussed many times in the course of their marriage. The conversations probably sounded something like this. Rivka would say, ‘honey, don’t you realize that Eisov is fooling you into believing that he is so honest’. To which Yitzchok would say ‘but just the other day he asked me how to give charity from his salt, he is certainly is a good fellow’. To which Rivka said ‘my dear, I was raised in my father’s home and you know what type of person he was. You also know my brother, Lavan, who claims to be such an upright person but you know him to be a scam (Yittzchok did, in fact, agree to this fact). Take it from me, I know a scam artist when I see one’. To which Yitzchok remained adamant that he could not be fooled. And this went on until the day that this event occurred.
Rivka understood that she had her last chance of demonstrating her point to her husband – how easily fooled he is. If she lost this opportunity Eisov’s deceit would prevail and those special blessings would become Eisov’s. She therefore encouraged Yaakov, who was the paradigm of integrity (and Yitzchok knew it) to fool his father. When his ruse succeeded in extracting those blessings and Yitzchok discovered what transpired he suddenly recognized that Rivka was correct – he had been fooled for all those years. This was why he immediately responded “Let Yaakov remain blessed” He conceded that Rivka had been correct; Eisov was truly undeserving of his blessings.
This episode in Yaakov’s life was HaShem’s obstacle course for Yaakov to develop a sharpened sensitivity in his remarkable quality of integrity. There are times when honesty requires deception. When one encounters deception the truthful way to deal with it is with deception itself. As King David sang in his poem regarding Hashem’s interaction with Man “With the pure You act purely, with the corrupt You act perversely…”
How fortunate we are that the roots of our people are so well grounded in truth, honesty and integrity and the understanding when to practice purity and when to practice deceit.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind