Rivka

This week in class we learned a lot about Yitzchak and Rivka's first meeting and their initial feelings about each other. In addition, we learned how this encounter foreshadows the rest of their relationship. At first, we learned how, following the death of Sarah, Avraham felt that it was time for Yitzchak to wed and continue the family name. Avraham commanded his servant (Eliezer) to go back to Charan, to Avraham's family of "chosen people", or people with the potential to become ethical monotheists. The family of Betuel, Rivka's father, were totally wrong. They used the name of G-d to promise, but then went back on their word the next day. In short, they were not ethical monotheists. They lied, cheated, and acted immorally on a daily basis. If she came from a family like this, what was so special about Rivka? What made her worthy of accepting and spreading ethical monotheism?

We have compared Rivka's journey to Avraham's journey many times in class. They both stood out as "good people" in societies where acting immorally was considered the norm. We see this with Rivka when she ran to give Eliezer water and then gave ALL of his camels water. In addition, she had to turn to take a leap of faith when she agreed to leave her home and follow a complete stranger to a new land. Just like Avraham, she had to go through leaving her family, who would just impede her journey towards ethical monotheism. Once she was away from them, she could really concentrate on her spiritual growth.

The incident of falling off the camel can give us major insight into Rivka's character. When she saw Yitzchak praying in the field, she was overwhelmed by his spirituality. How could she, a girl who grew up in the wrong environment for ethical monotheism, be worthy of such a spiritual being? This idea is totally embodied by the fact that she covered her face with a scarf. In their future relationship, Rivka would look up to Yitzchak and revere him like a student would revere a great teacher. In addition, she felt that it was not her place to correct Yitzchak, since he was so clearly her superior in spirituality. As we learned before, Yitzchak was more of a passive person. Rivka was the active part of the relationship. In the future, when the time comes to give the birthright to either Esav or Yaakov, Rivka will take matters into her own hands and do the right thing: switch Esav for Yaakov. This act set the ball rolling for the Jewish people to be created; if Rivka had not done that, there would not be a nation of "ethical monotheists" in existence today.