Rachel/0

Rachel

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Possible Flaws

"Give me Children..."

In Bereshit 30:1 Rachel beseeches Yaakov, "Give me children; if not, I am dead!" Yaakov responds harshly, getting angry at her and saying, "Am I in place of God who has kept from you fruit of the womb?"  What did Yaakov find problematic about Rachel's words that he grows so angry?  Was Rachel's lament somehow misplaced, or is it Yaakov who is being insensitive?

• Rachel erred – Many commentators assume that Yaakov's anger was justified and that Rachel had erred:
• RadakBereshit 30:2About R. David Kimchi and R. Avraham b. HaRambamBereshit 30:2About R. Avraham Maimonides¹ explain that in turning to Yaakov rather than Hashem, Rachel betrayed that she did not recognize that the matter was in Hashem's hands and not his. She should have instead asked him to pray for her.
• RambanBereshit 30:1-2About R. Moshe b. Nachman,² in contrast, assumes that Rachel had in fact asked that Yaakov pray to Hashem, but her mistake was is in viewing Yaakov's prayer as some type of automatic magical remedy. Yaakov taught her that even the prayers of the righteous are not always answered.³
• Finally, Akeidat YitzchakBereshit Peirush 3:1About R. Yitzchak Arama suggests that Rachel did not realize that her primary purpose in life was not simply to bear children, but to fill her life "בדברי שכל וחסידות". Her barrenness was not a reason to think her life was not worth living.
• Yaakov Erred – Bereshit Rabbah71:7About Bereshit Rabbah maintains that Yaakov was in the wrong, presenting Hashem as responding to Yaakov, "כך עונין את המעיקות?!" 
• Misunderstanding – R"Y Bekhor ShorBereshit 30:1-3About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor⁴ asserts that Yaakov misunderstood his wife, assuming that she was expecting him to somehow do what Hashem had not, when Rachel had meant only that he should take her maidservant and sire children from her so that Rachel could be their surrogate mother.

Taking the Terafim

Bereshit 31 describes Yaakov's flight from Lavan's house. Surprisingly, the Torah adds that Rachel took advantage of Lavan's absence to steal ("וַתִּגְנֹב") his terafim ("תְּרָפִים"). The chapter provides neither motivation nor justification for Rachel's actions. What are "terafim" and why might Rachel have taken them? How are we to understand the theft? [For full discussion, see Rachel's Stealing of the Terafim.]

 

Family

Barreness

Rivalry with Leah

Love of Yaakov

¹ Compare also RalbagBereshit Beur HaParashah 30:1About R. Levi b. Gershom.

² See also R. HirschBereshit 30:1-3About R. Samson Raphael Hirsch and R. D" Z HoffmannBereshit 30:1-2About R. David Zvi Hoffmann similarly.  They suggest that Rachel had asked Yaakov to pray for her, assuming that until now he had not done so, not caring enough for her distress.  Yaakov responds that he did in fact pray, but that prayers are not always answered in the affirmative.

³

⁴ See also SefornoBereshit 30:1-3About R. Ovadyah Seforno and Shadal.Bereshit 30:1About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto