A Special Letter from Rabbi Arush

There isn’t anything that we could possibly go though, that will reach the level of what happened to Rachel.

 

Try to imagine it for yourself, as it happened according to Chazal and the Midrash:

 

Rachel was on a level of spirituality far above everyone around her. Her chances of finding an appropriate marriage partner were next to nothing. Suddenly, the only man in the entire generation that is appropriate for her, shows up in her town. It was clear to both of them that they were soulmates, destined to raise the next generation and continue Judaism and the teachings of Avraham and Yitzchak. Seven years waiting to start this legacy pass for them like the blink of an eye.

 

The big night comes. Rachel is dressed as a bride, and everyone dances around her. As she is going to finally be alone with Yaakov – her father Lavan turns off the lights and pushes Rachel outside – and pushes her sister Leah into the room with Yaakov in her place. There is no oppression greater than this, and no greater cruelty.

 

Yaakov and Rachel knew that Lavan might try to pull a trick and set up signs between them. However, they never expected it to be like this, literally just seconds before their dreams were about to be fulfilled.

 

Rachel could have been totally calm – without the signs, the evil trick would be discovered. But on the other side of the picture was her sister – and the insufferable shame she would experience if she would have been rejected by Yaakov.

 

When Rachel gave Leah the signs in order that her sister should not be embarrassed – she wasn’t just giving over her husband – she was literally letting go of her entire life. There was no replacement for Yaakov – maybe she would never marry? Maybe now she would be forced to marry Esav? We’re talking about her entire life, dreams, everything – being turned around 180 degrees before her eyes, from light and hope to darkness and despair.

 

Truly, as great as a test as Akeidat Yitzchak was for Yitzchak, Rachel’s test was even bigger. There is a good reason why Rachel’s merit is so great, that she alone can cancel even the harshest decrees from the Jewish people.

 

The situation begs the question: How did she get the strength to keep living? A person loses their will to live when the most important thing to him is taken from him – whether it’s his family, or his business, or whatever else. The person just can’t continue, because nothing else can fill the gigantic void of what was lost.

 

However – there is something that can fill every void – and that is the desire to do good for someone else. Rachel didn’t lose her life dreams for nothing – she gave them to her sister. It was very difficult, it was emotional, it was the pinnacle of self-sacrifice. But because she was giving to someone else, that act of giving also gave her the strength to keep going, and gave her a reason to live.

 

Because the one thing that can give meaning to life to every person, in every circumstance – is that the greatest thing that there is in the world, is to do something good for someone else!

 

Rabbi Carlebach tells a story about a time that he was walking in Tel Aviv, and met a holocaust survivor. This survivor was taught by the Piaseczne Rebbe in his childhood, who was constantly repeating: “Precious children, remember that the greatest thing in the entire world is to do good for someone else.” The survivor explains that he lost everything in the war, but every time he lost the will to live, he would strengthen himself to do good for other people, and thus he survived. Even and especially in Auschwitz, there was so much good to do – encourage someone else, comfort them, listen to them.

 

Hence – the ability to give, is the strength to live!

 

This is what gave Rachel the strength to stand in one of the greatest tests ever given to mankind. This is what gave that survivor the strength to withstand Hell on Earth. And it is the same power that can strengthen you, too! If you already let go of your life – so live for Hashem’s sake, and for the sake of His children. Live to make someone else happy. Live for your spouse, your children, your parent. It is specifically in the hardest times in life, when you’ve already lost the desire to live – that you can reach the greatest heights, when you live just for the sake of helping other people. A lot of tzaddikim wanted to reach this level – and only a few ever did.

 

Therefore, whatever you’re going through in life, and especially if you feel like you’re losing your will to live – take strength from our Mother Rachel. Not only does she understand everything you’re going through – she is a wonderful mother, the special mother who knows our deep pain even better than we do.

 

And don’t give up on life! If you can’t live for yourself, live for other people. Live to make the world a better place, live so that you can help others to live. The Zohar teaches that the light of chesed, of selfless giving, is the light that was created at the beginning of Creation, and this light has the power to drive away all the darkness – both from the world, and your own life.  

 

Continued in Pour Down Blessing.