TOLEDOT
5766-2005
"Why Was Rebecca Barren?"
In
this week's parasha, parashat Toledot, we are told that
Isaac was 40 years old when he took Rebecca as his wife.
Scripture also informs us that Isaac prayed for the
benefit of his wife, (Genesis 25:21) "Kee ah'kah'rah
hee," because she was barren. G-d responds
to Isaac's prayer, and Rebecca conceives.
Although
the biblical text doesn't indicate as much, the Midrash
suggests that Rebecca was barren for 20 years until
she conceived.
Rebecca
wasn't the only matriarch who experienced barrenness
and difficulty conceiving. Sarah and Rachel were also
barren. The commentators wrestle mightily with the issue
of the barrenness of the matriarchs, and numerous reasons
have been suggested.
1.
Some commentators maintain that barrenness proves that
the emergence of Israel is a miracle, and that each
new generation is a gift from G-d to a mother who could
not have given birth naturally. (Cited in the Artscroll
Chumash, Stone edition)
2.
As Rebecca was leaving her homeland, Aram Naharayim,
to meet her betrothed (Isaac), she was given a blessing
by the people as they bade her farewell. (Genesis 24:60)
"Ah'cho'tay'noo aht ha'yee l'al'fay r'va'vah,"
Our sister, may you be to the myriads of thousands.
Their blessing was, in effect, that Rebecca be the progenitor
of many many descendants. In order to prevent people
from claiming that "It was our blessing that made
Rebecca fruitful. Rebecca owes us for our blessing!"
G-d rendered Rebecca barren, so that she would owe the
local people nothing. (Cited by May'am Loez)
3.
The Talmud, in Yevamot 64a, states that G-d desires
the prayer of the righteous. In this way, G-d teaches
His people of the great efficacy of prayer. (Cited by
Artscroll/Stone and May'am Loez)
4.
Barrenness comes to show that it is not on the basis
of merit or mazal (luck) that people have children.
Children are, rather, a gift from G-d. (Cited by May'am
Loez)
5. Rebecca was rendered barren by G-d in order to forestall
the exile to Egypt that had been predicted by G-d in
His vision to Abraham (Genesis 15:13). Since the exile
was set to begin with the birth of Isaac, by postponing
the birth, the enslavement in Egypt was significantly
shortened, making it more bearable for the Hebrew slaves
to endure.
6.
The Malbim (Rabbi Meir Yehudah Leibish Malbim, 1809-1879,
leading Torah scholar in Germany, Romania and Russia)
suggests that childbirth is natural, similar to planting
a tree or a bush. But the birth of an exceptional child
requires the intervention of G-d, since such a birth
is supernatural. Because of their barrenness, the matriarchs,
through their constant prayer and pleading, purified
the fetus, who emerged exceptional. Since Isaac had
been previously guaranteed by G-d that he would have
children, the purpose of Isaac's prayer was to insure
that only Rebecca would be the mother of his children.
7.
There are those who suggest that Rebecca needed time
to clear the wicked home environment of Aram Naharayim
out of her system. Consequently, the birth was delayed.
Although,
over the past twenty years, remarkable medical progress
has been made to assist those with fertility problems,
there are still many couples who have not been blessed
with children. This issue has been amplified by recent
social trends often resulting in delayed marriages.
Since conception is more difficult when the couple is
older, infertility has become more common. The issue
of infertility becomes much more painful for those infertile
couples who reside in communities where women have large
numbers of children, like the Orthodox and Chasidic
communities. The pain that infertile couples experience
is extraordinary. It is imperative that those with children
be more sensitive when those without children are in
their presence.
The
searing words that appeared in a recent Bereshith newsletter,
written by an anonymous Beginner who has not had the
fortune of having children, still ring in my ears. I
would like to share just a small part of her plaintive
essay, entitled My
Personal Elul Miracle, (Bereshith newsletter, Tishrei
5766-October 2005 )
