שבת  פרשת תולדות

SHABBAT PARSHAT TOLDOT

Director of Experiential Education

Gemara & Tanach

The Netziv (Bereishit 24, 65) points to the moment that Rivka first met Yitzchak as an experience that shaped the dynamic of their relationship and led Rivka to make the decisions she made.

'And Rivka lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Yitzchak she fell off her camel. She asked the servant with her: "Who is this man that is walking in the field to meet us?" The servant answered: "He is my master" Rivka then took her veil and covered her face. (Bereshit 24, 64-65)'

There was something about seeing Yitzchak from afar that raised Rivka's anxiety and stress levels.  She didn't have the confidence or courage to meet him face to face. Rivka's almost paralyzing level of shyness seems to continue throughout their entire relationship. The Netziv explains that every time Rivka needed to tell Yitzchak something important that could have implications about the future of the Jewish nation, such as being able to see through Esav's deception, she couldn't muster up the courage to tell him. Rivka's deceitful plan was indeed born out of desperation. Rivka's self-esteem struggles and inability to speak freely and comfortably with her husband forced her to make this questionable moral decision and put both Yakov, and the future of the Jewish people, at risk.

This year at Kohelet we began a new Social Emotional Learning curriculum which we call Foundations. One of the messages we try to relay to our students through our programming is that open and honest communication is an integral part to every healthy relationship. Both sides of a relationship need to feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and feelings, and one should never keep one's feelings bottled up inside, as Rivka did. Achieving that level of trust and communication with parents, friends and loved ones is often not easy, but it is a goal that we must strive for nonetheless.