There are some moments in our lives when we are at peace with our inner, spiritual selves. The majority of our experiences are strenuous, often painful, and challenge ... More
There are some moments in our lives when we are at peace with our inner, spiritual selves. The majority of our experiences are strenuous, often painful, and challenge us to overcome the negative urges of our psyche.
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Sources for this class as well as a more in depth treatment (as well as many sources) of Rachel and Leah, their destinies and their descendants can be found in my book, Tending the Garden in the Voices section in the chapter: Rachel and Leah: Two Worlds, Two Destinies.
The concept of Rachel (and her children) as the tzaddik personality and Leah (and her children) as the baal teshuvah personality can be found in Likkutei Sichot 35:152ff.
The Mei Hashiloach explains that Leah means "one who is weary". She is described as the weak eyed sister, weakened from her incessant tears and anxiety.
Leah's son, Yehudah is held as a prime example of someone who perfectly accomplishes teshuvah, by publicly admitting his sin with Tamar and repenting over it. Kind David, Yehuda's descendant and from whose dynasty Moshiach descends, also represents the life of a baal teshuva, breaking any trace of evil within him through his constant fasts and prayers.
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The term "baal teshuvah" here does not refer to its common usage nowadays, of someone who has returned to the path of Judaism. It refers to a far broader term--and one that hopefully describes all of us, since very few of us attain the status of a "tzaddik personality", someone who is purely righteous, has never sinned and never needs to 'return'.
Rachel represents the "Tzadiik personality" -- that pure and righteous individual whose very being reflects the harmony and goodness of her Creator. Her beauty is openly apparent and her world epitomizes the way things are supposed to be, in a world of perfection.
Leah personifies a more complex individual and is associated with the baal teshuvah figure. Though the righteous Leah did not commit any act of sin, her divine service is that of of a baal teshuva, someone who is charged with dealing with the challenges of our world and exploiting its goodness. The interaction with these challenges are strenuous and often painful and the baal teshuvah personality must be vigilant and on constant guard in each interaction with the world, for fear of succumbing to its embrace.
Leah represents the future of our people, where, like Leah, we too can raise our sights, overcome the present difficulties and actualize a lofty future. She symbolizes the destiny of our people, one that is fraught with effort, but one that leads towards a higher an brighter future.
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BS"D
I don't really understand. You mean life is a struggle for those who are baal tshuvah but for those who are frum from birth its not?
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Thank you very much for this interesting shiur. However, would you please post in a comment the sources from which you are reading so that I can look them up inside to learn them.
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Thank you for this thought provoking piece and reminding us that our efforts before G-d is never in vain. I now greatly understand Leah, maybe far more than Rachel. I remember being told as a child to be thoughtful of all people because you never know how severe their struggle is. Even if people appeared to have it so easy in life, there had to be a struggle of effort made somewhere, somehow.
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Thank you so much for this.
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