This Week's Parsha Insight: The Legacy of Rachel
In this week's parsha, we reflect on the poignant moment of Rachel's death while giving birth to Binyamin on the way to Efrat (Beth Lechem). This narrative resonates deeply, especially in light of the powerful verse from Jeremiah 31:15:
"כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה ק֣וֹל בְּרָמָ֤ה נִשְׁמָע֙ נְהִי֙ בְּכִ֣י תַמְרוּרִ֔ים רָחֵ֖ל מְבַכָּ֣ה עַל־בָּנֶ֑יהָ מֵאֲנָ֛ה לְהִנָּחֵ֥ם עַל־בָּנֶ֖יהָ כִּ֥י אֵינֶֽנּוּ׃ {ס}”
“Thus said God: A cry is heard in Ramah—Wailing, bitter weeping—Rachel weeping for her children. She refuses to be comforted, for her children, who are gone.”
This verse has gained immense popularity, particularly as a song sung at the Kotel on Tisha B'Av and during gatherings aimed at unification(However, I find the Tisha B'Av trend somewhat problematic from a halachic perspective).
Rachel's story symbolizes the complex relationship between her descendants and those of Judah. Throughout Jewish history, Rachel and her children have often been associated with division rather than unity. From the selling of Joseph to the strife during the monarchy between Saul and David, and even the breakaway of the ten tribes from Judah, Rachel's legacy is far from one of harmony.
Interestingly, Rashi cites a midrash where Rachel defends the Jewish nation by highlighting her self-sacrifice, allowing Leah to marry Jacob first. This interpretation may serve to address the very tensions I’ve mentioned.
Moreover, I want to offer a deeper perspective on Jeremiah's pasuk. At the time of Jeremiah's , the Jewish experience in Israel is coming to an end. The ten tribes are in exile, and the kingdom of Judah is on the brink of collapse. In this chapter, Jeremiah reminisces about happier times at the dawn of the nation's birth:
"כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה מָצָ֥א חֵן֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר עַ֖ם שְׂרִ֣ידֵי חָ֑רֶב הָל֥וֹךְ לְהַרְגִּיע֖וֹ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃"
“Thus said God: The people escaped from the sword, Found favor in the wilderness; When Israel was marching homeward.”
In this moment, Jeremiah remembers the tribes responsible for bringing the Jewish people into Israel—Joshua and his legacy. It is over this failed mission that Rachel weeps for her children. They played a significant role in both the entry into the land and its subsequent failures, embodying the sorrow of a mission that never fully came to fruition—much like Rachel never returning to her husband's homeland.
Yet, Jeremiah ultimately consoles Rachel with words of hope:
"כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה מִנְעִ֤י קוֹלֵךְ֙ מִבֶּ֔כִי וְעֵינַ֖יִךְ מִדִּמְעָ֑ה כִּי֩ יֵ֨שׁ שָׂכָ֤ر לִפְעֻלָּתֵךְ֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְשָׁ֖בוּ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ אוֹיֵֽב׃”
“Thus said God: Restrain your voice from weeping, Your eyes from shedding tears; For there is a reward for your labor—declares God: They shall return from the enemy’s land.”
This reassures us that the mission is not a complete failure; success is historically just around the corner. Perhaps this is where the idea of the Messiah of Joseph coming before the Messiah of David originates...
