Machshava:

Chinuch 

Parsha:

Vayeitzei 

Description

In Sefer Yirmiyahu Chapter 31, Yirmiyahu details the scene in heaven as Am Yisrael leave Eretz Yisrael following the Second Bet Hamikdash’s desctruction. The well-known pesukim describe Rachel Imeinu crying for her children, and refusing consolation over their descent into exile. The Navi then describes how G-d ultimately responds with a promise of redemption and a return to the Land for Am Yisrael. The question that arises is, why were Rachel’s tefillot answered so positively? What was so compelling about her tefillot? Part of G-d’s response to Rachel is that “there’s reward for your action”- implying that it wasn’t simply Rachel’s tefillot, but rather something that she did, that caused G-d to respond positively to her pleas. What exactly did Rachel do that was so uniquely commendable? And what can we learn from her actions regarding parenting?