Gneivat haDaat - Giving a False Impression
It is not for nothing that this world has been nicknamed the "Olam HaSheker", which means the World of Lies (in Hebrew). However, this is not meant to be defeatist or pessimistic but simply to reveal the presupposition that truth (Emet) is the essence of a different realm, not this one.
We all grew up with famous fables that highlight the consequences of deception, stories like, "The Emporer's New Clothes", or "The Boy Who Cried, Wolf".
From the integration of psychology into marketing tactics through pioneers like Edward Bernays; to the catastrophic social manipulations of Joseph Goebbels - manipulation has become the trade-craft for many organizations and governments worldwide.
It is not for nothing that this world has been nicknamed the "Olam HaSheker", which means the World of Lies (in Hebrew). However, this is not meant to be defeatist or pessimistic, but simply to reveal the presupposition that truth (Emet) is the essence of a different realm, not this one.
The World of Truth
In the World of Truth, also known as the World to Come, our spiritual and moral priorities align with the Creator¹, a place where 'all that has been concealed will come to light'.
This presents both a problem and an opportunity for us here and now. Our job is to remember this reality and strive to bring the light of truth into as many parts of our lives as possible.
While many obvious examples of deception are perhaps more obvious and overt, there are more subtle manipulations we should be aware of in our day-to-day lives. Many of which may fly covertly under our radar.
Stealing the Mind
Pondering the Biblical prohibition, "Thou shall not steal" (Exodus 20:13), the Sages² recognized another form of theft they called, "Gneivat haDaat". In Hebrew, this translates as "stealing of the mind".
In practical terms, this is intentionally giving a false impression or deliberate misrepresentation.
"the term “stealing” also includes the “stealing” of human beings i.e. kidnapping. Even deceiving your fellow man deliberately is called “stealing people’s minds", misleading them to believe that lies are truth." ³
While this has often been discussed in relation to business ethics, it is not a leap to see how this applies in everyday life.
Just as fraud pertains to buying and selling, so can it apply to spoken words. One may not ask a store owner, "How much does this cost?" if they have no intention of buying it. - Mishnah Bava Metzia, 4:10
The good news: you now have a moral license to gently and quickly dismiss door-to-door salespeople when you have no interest in their product.
On the other hand, we should consider how this applies to our interactions with others. Where may we be giving a false impression?
Outward Appearances
Can you conceive of a space more optimized for this sort of deception than social media? From the steady barrage of less-than-truthful advertisements, algorithmic subliminal messaging, and billions of filtered and curated posts daily - it is safe to assume 'stealing of the mind' is rampant.
We should be careful not to participate in this. Maimonides elaborates:
A person is forbidden to act in a smooth-tongued and luring manner. He should not speak one thing outwardly and think otherwise in his heart. Rather, his inner self should be like the self which he shows to the world. What he feels in his heart should be the same as the words on his lips.
- Mishneh Torah, Human Dispositions 2:6
At one point in history, the Study Halls (Yeshivot) in Israel were only permitted to those who strove to align these parts of selfhood:
As Rabban Gamliel would proclaim and say: Any student whose inside, his thoughts and feelings, are not like his outside, i.e., his conduct and his character traits are lacking, will not enter the study hall. - Beralhot 28a
As if this was not enough, the Sages also taught that arrogance and self-centeredness dull our spiritual senses, dragging us further from the truth. For those mystically inclined, this strengthens the Klippah.
Put another way; we can become absorbed in the image we create to the degree that we find ourselves inundated with the upkeep and maintenance of this version of ourselves.
The Cost of Deception
It is taught that deception comes with a cost, physically, psychology, and spiritually. Could this be part of why many technologically advanced societies still struggle with stress, anxiety, and depression?
The cost of maintaining falsehood can itself be a huge psychological toll. Believing the impression that everyone else's life is going well can add to your feeling of inadequacy.
On the other hand, we recognize that absolute truth can destroy a society. For instance, among the laws of Lashon Hara (Evil speech)⁴, it is prohibited to speak the truth openly if it might cost someone their livelihood, reputation, or emotional wellness.
The Sages discussed how to navigate this problem, suggesting people learn to speak in a way that allows for wiggle room. Nevertheless, we should avoid deception at all costs; that means exaggeration, lies, flattery, etc.
A story is told in the Talmud⁵:
It happened once, a man came to a city named Kushta (which means; truth). The inhabitants of that city would not speak falsehood, and as a result, no one ever died an untimely death. He married one of its inhabitants, and she bore him two children.
It happened once that his wife was washing and a female neighbor came to ask for her. Thinking it was improper to say that she was washing, he therefore said that she was not home. Later, the two children died. The inhabitants came and asked him: "What does this mean?" He then told them the truth, whereupon they said to him: "Pray to move away from our city in order not to cause untimely deaths among us."
If this seems far-fetched, consider the story of Ananias and Sephira in the book of Acts, chapter 5.
What We Can Do
Our challenge will be to embrace and reveal a more refined truth in every part of our lives. It is one of the primary reasons why we are here.
We should strive to be honest about who we are, admit our shortcomings, and maintain consistent values in the private and public spheres. Resist the urge to paint a false picture, (Gneivat haDaat), and seek the truth in all domains of our life.
We should consider what we can do to align our true selves with the impressions we give others.
- How do we present ourselves in business or on the street? Is there a degree of variance from who we are at home?
- Do we act more generously in public to set a particular image?
- Do we have difficulty saying "No", and agreeing to plans we intend to cancel on later?
- Do we curate an image on social media that does not align with our true selves?
- Do we take the time to check our motives before doing a good deed or speaking? Are we seeking honor or personal gain through our actions?
Lastly, we should help the younger generations navigate this emerging reality. Point out the deceptions and the impossible standards they are being led to uphold. Let them know mistakes are inevitable and useful - and that our shortcomings are an intricate part of our growth.
In an age where filters, compartmentalization, and variance between our personas are the norm, we're challenged to be the same through and through.
Notes:
¹ https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.10b.5?ven=William_Davidson_Edition_-_English&lang=bi
² https://www.sefaria.org/Tosefta_Bava_Kamma.7.3?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en
³ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obadiah_ben_Jacob_Sforno
⁴ https://www.thehiddenorchard.com/watching-our-words/
⁵ Sanhedrin 11
