BS’D
Ahy, yahy, yahy… if we only could contemplate the self-sacrifice Mama Rochel made for her children, we would dance at the thought that we are from the same family and part of the same heritage!!!
When we read the Torah portion of Vayetzei we know the end to the story of Rachel, Leah and Ya’akov Avinu. It doesn’t seem to ‘tickle’ us as much as it should. We know the end; Rachel did in fact earn the right to marry Ya’akov in addition to her sister Leah … but she didn’t know that. From her perspective she willingly switched her destiny with that of Leah. Leah cried endless tears in her youth since she knew through Divine inspiration that she was destined to marry the wicked Esav. That life was now destined to be Rachel’s. How many tears she shed…
Mama Rachel gave up this world and the next to console her sister’s pain. She gave up this world assuming she would marry Esav and be the Mother of the future Esav generation, among them Hitler, may his name be erased. She gave up the next world understanding that there is little reward, if any, for mothering such a nation.
Rachel Imeinu was willing to give up her title as Mother of the Jewish Nation. Therefore measure for measure Hashem rewarded her with the name ‘Mama Rachel’, Mother Rachel. “Karov ailecha hadavar miod b’ficha ubilvavecha la’asoto (Rather, the matter is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to perform)”, parshat Nitzavim (30:14). We are all made of the same ‘G-dly stuff’ and have it in us to live with such self-sacrifice and love for one another; most of us already do.
In the merit of Mama Rachel, today let us do one selfless act for a fellow Jew without telling a soul; just l’Shem Shamayim, to honor Hashem’s name and our Mother Rachel.
