This week’s (Nov. 11th – Nov. 17th) schedule, for Rabbi Mansour, Cong. Bet Yaakob…
9:00 PM Monday, Nov. 12th Mens Class- Ein Yaakob (2nd Floor Midrash)
12:45 PM Tuesday, Nov. 13th Ladies Class at Lawrence Ave Synagogue in Deal
1:15 PM Wed, Nov. 14th Ladies Class- Mesilat Yesharim
1:15 PM Thursday, Nov. 15th Ladies Class at Har HaLebanon
7:45 PM Thurs, Nov. 15th Men & Ladies- Parasha Insight at Har Lebanon
8:15 AM Friday, Nov. 16th Mens Class- Parasha (2nd Floor Midrash)
4:00 PM Friday, Nov. 16th Mens Class- Mishna Berura (2nd Floor Midrash)
4:15 PM Friday, Nov. 16th Minha
4:19 PM Friday, Nov. 16th Candle Lighting
5:35 PM Friday, Nov. 16th 30 Minute Class on Sefer Hinuch follows Arbit
7:00 AM Shabbat, Nov. 17th Shaharit followed by Seuda and Class
3:50 PM Shabbat, Nov. 17th Minha followed by Seudat Shelishi, Derasha, & Arbit
5:20 PM Shabbat Ends Havdallah
5:45 PM Shabbat, Nov. 17th Daf Yomi
7:00 PM Saturday, Nov. 17th Mens & Ladies- Class on Tehillim at Har Lebanon
Parashat Vayese- Rachel's Jealousy
Parashat Vayese tells of the births of Yaakov's children. After his marriage to Leah and Rachel, Leah immediately conceived and bore Yaakov four sons, while Rachel remained infertile. The Torah writes that after the birth of Leah's fourth son, Yehuda, "Rachel was jealous of her sister" ("Va'takane Rachel Ba'ahota" – 30:1).
Two questions immediately arise upon reading this verse. Firstly, and more obviously, how can we possibly ascribe feelings of jealousy to Rachel, one of our righteous matriarchs? The Sages famously teach that before she was to be married to Yaakov, she and Yaakov anticipated that her father, Lavan, might attempt to deceive Yaakov and substitute Leah in her stead. Yaakov and Rachel therefore decided upon certain "Simanim" – signs – by which they would be able to confirm each other's identity on their wedding night. Just before the wedding, however, Rachel felt concern that Leah would perhaps suffer humiliation when she is discovered, when Yaakov realizes that it was her, and not Rachel, at the wedding. In one of the greatest expressions of selflessness and sensitivity imaginable, Rachel voluntarily taught Leah the "Simanim" she had decided upon with Yaakov, so that her identity would not be revealed and she would be spared embarrassment.
Is it possible for a woman of such piety and selfless concern for others to experience envy? She was prepared to forego on her marriage to Yaakov – which could have resulted in her marriage to the wicked Esav! – so that Leah would not be embarrassed. Could such a woman feel jealous of her sister?
The second question relates to the timing of Rachel's jealousy. Why did she feel envious only now, after the birth of Leah's fourth child? Why did she not experience jealousy until now?
The answer to both questions emerges from Leah's reaction to the birth of her fourth child, Yehuda: "This time I shall give thanks to Hashem!" (29:35). The occasion of Yehuda's birth caused Leah to feel a profound sense of Hakarat Ha'tov – gratitude and appreciation – which she expressed through the name of her fourth son. ("Yehuda" is derived from the word "Odeh" – "I shall give thanks.") Rachel, in her remarkable piety, took note of her sister's gratitude and felt jealous. She, too, wished to experience this sense of appreciation of God's kindness, to feel and express heartfelt gratitude to the Almighty. Rachel desperately longed for the ability to give thanks to Hashem with the same emotion and fervor as Leah, and this was the nature of Rachel's jealousy.
The Sages remark (Bava Batra 21a), "Kinat Soferim Tarbeh Hochma" – "Jealousy among scholars increases wisdom." Jealousy in spiritual matters is admirable, as it encourages people to seek greater achievement. If a fellow student mastered large sections of the Talmud, it is laudable for his peers to feel envious, as they will then commit themselves to study with greater diligence. Unfortunately, people generally reserve their jealousy for material matters, rather than spiritual achievement. When it comes to Torah observance, we tend to look at those who are less diligent than us and feel content with our level, whereas with regard to wealth we constantly focus our attention on those who have more than we do. And so we feel perfectly at ease with our spiritual achievement, knowing that we have achieved a higher level than others, but are forever dissatisfied with our material standard, seeing others with greater fortunes than we have amassed.
This is the precise opposite of what our outlook should be. When it comes to material success, we should appreciate and feel grateful for what we have, recognizing that there are so many people who, unfortunately, lack even their most basic needs. But with regard to spiritual achievement, we, like our righteous matriarch Rachel, should feel envious of those who have reached a higher level. We should look to them as an example from which to draw inspiration for further spiritual growth. Rather than feeling content with where we are, we must constantly seek to build and improve, always trying to reach the level of those above us.
