What is meant by the verse in Micah, “Give truth to Jacob?” The commentaries discuss who is truthful and who is deceptive in parshat Toldot. This has particular significance for our world today, as we – the children of Yaacov – are fighting to get the truth out and dispel the deceptive lies about Israel. 

Yaacov is characterized by the Torah as “a plain (tam) man, dwelling in tents.” Rashi comments that Yaacov is the antithesis of his brother Esau who was regularly deceiving his father about his true character. This is surprising given that it is Yaacov who seems to act deceivingly. First, he makes a deal with Esau and receives the birthright (bechora) at a low moment for Esau, when he is exhausted. Next, Rivka instructs Yaakov to disguise himself as Esau so that Yitzchak blesses him and not Esau. When Yitzchak, who is going blind, asks Yaacov straight out who he is, he replies, “I am Esau, your firstborn.” Later, Yitzchak explicitly tells Esau that his brother “came in cunning (mirma) and took his blessing.” Yet, Rashi continues to defend Yaacov’s innocence. Rashi repunctuates one of the verses so that Yaacov is not technically lying: “I am [bringing you food], Esau is your firstborn,” and defines mirma as cleverness, not cunning.

Yet, other interpreters suggest that even if the blessing was meant for Yaacov, the means by which it was acquired led to consequences for Yaacov and his descendents – the Jewish people. In one midrash, Rachel deceives Yaacov on his wedding night with Leah to protect her sister’s dignity. She reminds him that he too deceived his father, measure for measure. Moreover, when Esau realizes what has happened and cries out “a great and bitter cry,” Bereshit Rabbah says that “Yaacov” was punished when Mordechai lets out a great, bitter cry in Shushan, due to Haman’s decree to wipe out the Jewish people. 

Yaacov was a man of truth. When he acted with duplicity it was to ensure the future of the Jewish people, yet there were long-term consequences. Today, as the world so easily consumes the lies of our enemies, we will continue to fight to “give truth to Yaacov,” to the Jewish people. Shabbat Shalom -Karen Miller Jackson