Rabbi Levin's Blog

It was a very moving and beautiful moment.  Two brothers who had been estranged for a long time meet after 35 years.  There was great tension and fear in anticipation of this meeting.  Yaakov had hoped that Esav had forgiven him for “stealing” the blessings, which were actually rightfully Yaakov’s, and had sent him messengers of peace.  He was warned that Esav was coming toward him with 400 warriors to fight. Yaakov prepared himself in many ways, dividing the camp, praying and sending lavish gifts to appease Esav.  As the Torah says, Yaakiv was afraid and distressed - afraid that he might be killed and distressed that he might be forced to kill.  Because even though it would be in self-defense and he should be fully justified, Jewish nature is such that we are distressed when we have to kill our enemies. This all followed on the heels of Yaakov’s fight with Esav’s guardian angel, from which he emerged with a wound in his sciatic nerve.  We can imagine ...

A woman has been married for many years and not been able to have children.  For many decades she has suffered, seeing all her friends with many children and yearning for a child of her own.  Finally the miracle happens and she becomes pregnant and gives birth to a healthy boy.  You can imagine her intense joy and happiness, and she expresses that in the name she gives her son.... Give me another one? This seems to be exactly what our mother Rachel did.  After many years watching her sister Leah give birth to seven children and the house maidservants have two each, she finally has a son, and she names him Yosef, which means “he will add.”   The Torah clearly states her intent - “Yosef Hashem li ben acher,” typically translated as “May Hashem add for me another son.”  While of course there can be many explanations for this, like perhaps that she was excited about her ability now to have children and was praying to be able to augment her part as a mother...