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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
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While this may be what Ya’akov meant, it is possible that this connection between Lavan’s deceitfulness and Rivka has an additional meaning, even if Ya’akov was unaware of it. Let us start with a reminder that a great nation and its leaders do not always come about easily or in standard ways (consider Moshe and David).
Hashem considered it crucial for the nation emerging from Ya’akov that Ya’akov receive Yitzchak’s special blessing, and so He arranged for Ya’akov’s prophetess mother to help him get it even with subterfuge. Hashem also knew that our nation must be built from two righteous matriarchs who would marry Ya’akov, Leah and Rachel (see Rut 4:11). There was just one major problem – they were sisters, and the Torah forbids marrying two sisters during their lifetimes (Vayikra 18:18). There are many explanations as to how Ya’akov was permitted to do this. The main idea is that since it was before the giving of the full Torah (as opposed to the Noahide commandments), where it was forbidden, the forefathers had more latitude (see Da’at Z’keinim, Bereishit 37:35). Even so, it appears clear that irrespective of his feelings for Leah, Ya’akov would not have agreed to marry Leah along with her sister Rachel if the circumstances had not forced it upon him. It turns out that Lavan’s trickery was the catalyst for the proper formation of Bnei Yisrael, albeit without Lavan’s pre-knowledge or best intentions, like those of his righteous sister Rivka.
Perhaps this was part of Rivka’s prophecy. Yitzchak, in giving instructions to Ya’akov at Rivka’s urging, right after the turmoil-filled events with the berachot (see Bereishit 27:46), said: "… take for yourself there a wife from the daughters of Lavan, the brother of your mother" (ibid. 28:2). In other words, while Avraham suspected that his daughter-in-law/matriarch would be from his brother’s broader family, Yitzchak/Rivka seem to have known that: theirs would be a daughter of Lavan, specifically, that Lavan had multiple daughters, and that they "saw" (likely, prophetically) either of them as a worthy candidate. What Hashem may have left out (or did not want them to tell Ya’akov) is that it was not either of them, but both of them. In order to turn that into a reality, Divine Providence turned to Lavan to be the perfect shadchan for this impossible match – take the righteous Ya’akov, who would not agree to marry two sisters, even before the Torah was given, and trick him to marry Leah first, so that he would have to be married to both.
Let us return to the pasuk connecting Ya’akov to Rivka and Lavan. While Ya’akov meant to present a stark contrast between Lavan and Rivka, Hashem planned Providence’s use of similar approaches by both. Hashem guided Rivka to use deceit to obtain the coveted blessings for Ya’akov and send him to her brother, whom Hashem allowed/enabled to arrange the most impossible yet perfect match for Ya’akov – Leah, followed by Rachel. What teamwork between vastly different siblings!
Rabbis in Midrash
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Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
