Illustration
Photo: Ata Awisat
Transcending our environment
We learn from Rebecca that no matter what a person's background is, one can always change, exceed limitations and boundaries
Undoubtedly, our interaction with our environment effects who we are. We are shaped by those around us and unless we live in isolation, we will certainly be exposed to some sort of influence.
Rebecca's actions were the definition of holiness, as Chassidic philosophy explains that holiness is synonymous with giving. Just like G-d is a giver by creating the world and gives more than the requirement by giving us what we need in life and more, so too Rebecca gave water to the servant and gave more than what was required by also giving water to the camels.
It is hard to argue that being raised in a supporting and loving environment isn't conducive to living a happy and fulfilling life. Conversely, the misfortunate who are raised in difficult or painful environments certainly seem to have the cards stacked against them in building content and positive lives. But is this always the case? Is it possible to transcend our environments and expectations?
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In this weeks Torah portion Abraham sends his servant to find a bride for his son Isaac. In the midst of this story, we are introduced to Rebecca. Unsure of how to pick out a proper spouse for his master's son, the servant decides that if a girl offers him and his camel's water then it will be a sign that she is the right one. So, Rebecca comes and fulfills these requirements and Abraham's servant offers her the marriage proposal.
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Therefore, Rebecca's actions were more than just that of a generous and kind woman, they were the very embodiment and expression of holiness.
It IS a big deal
This might not seem like such a surprise. You may ask, "Rebecca was a holy woman, one of the founding mothers, so of course she did holy things. What's the big deal?"
In truth, it is a big deal. Unlike Isaac, Rebecca came from a family of evil people and idol worshippers. Today we would say she was an "at risk" child who came from a broken home. She wasn't exposed to giving or holiness and she didn't learn these things from home.
Rather, Rebecca found these things in her self and transcended her environment. She decided to be a certain way based on her own convictions. She wasn't cookie cut from her situation or a victim of circumstance; rather she controlled her destiny and shaped her persona.
Our sages state, "When a person sanctifies himself slightly through his own efforts, a great dimension of holiness is bestowed form above." Just a little effort brings great advancement. We see this with Rebecca as a little spiritual growth brought her tangible physical benefit as she married Isaac and was swept out of her dire environment.
We learn from Rebecca that no matter what a person's background is or where they find themselves in life, regardless of the mistakes they made and their consequences; one can always change and exceed limitations and boundaries. By cleaving to something greater than our environment, we do not have to become products of it.
The marriage of Isaac and Rebecca was the union of opposites. Isaac symbolized the spiritual while Rebecca symbolized the physical. This is a model of our world where we try to merge the physical with spiritual, by bringing spiritual principles into our daily, physical lives.
