What if one of the Torah's greatest heroes was actually its most scandalous trickster?

In this episode of Madlik Disruptive Torah, Geoffrey Stern and Adam Mintz dive into one of the most provocative moments in the Torah: Jacob's audacious act of deception to secure his father Isaac's blessing in Parashat Toldot. Rather than smoothing over the ethical wrinkles, we sit with the discomfort, exploring why the Torah insists on portraying our third patriarch as a trickster—and what we're meant to learn from a hero whose virtues are tangled with flaws.

Key Takeaways

1. The Torah Embraces Imperfect Heroes prompting readers to grapple with imperfection as part of the human and spiritual journey.
2. Biblical stories were shaped by and for public reading; audiences came with expectations based on oral traditions and prior knowledge.
3. Spiritual growth often requires confrontations with failure and the "divine ruse"—a process of growth through challenge, not perfection.

Timestamps

• [00:00:00 ] Geoffrey opens the episode and introduces the problem of Jacob stealing the blessing.
• [00:00:25 ] He reframes the question: maybe the Torah wants us to sit with the discomfort.
• [00:00:47 ] Overview of themes: ancient oil traditions, imperfect heroes, Maimonides on change.
• [00:01:08 ] Show intro + housekeeping (YouTube, Substack, source sheet, reviews).
• [00:01:27 ] Main question of the week: why portray Jacob this way, and are we projecting modern morality?
• [00:02:18 ] Opening character analysis: Jacob's name, symbolism of "heel holder," zig-zag personality.
• [00:04:01 ] Plot recap: Isaac asks Esau for hunted game, Rebecca overhears and initiates the plan.
• [00:05:02 ] The key deception moment: Jacob tells Isaac, "I am Esau your firstborn."
• [00:07:27 ] Esau's character through rabbinic commentary: glutton, outdoorsman vs. Jacob the tent-dweller.
• [00:22:03 ] Jacob's consequences begin: exile, never seeing his mother again, being tricked by Laban.

Links & Learnings

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Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/