Skip to main content

Mother Rachel

Holy Land Moments
   

Chafirah(Excavation)

Hear Translation »

July 16, 2012

"“This is what the Lord says: ‘A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.’ This is what the Lord says: ‘Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,’ declares the Lord. ‘They will return from the land of the enemy. So there is hope for your descendants,’ declares the Lord. ‘Your children will return to their own land’." —Jeremiah 31:15-17

According to Jewish tradition, all the patriarchs and matriarchs are buried in the cave of Machpelah in Hebron, except one: Mother Rachel. Her husband Jacob had a good reason for burying her on the road near Bethlehem instead. He foresaw that in the future, when the Jewish people would be exiled from their homeland, they would need her.

Here’s why.

Jewish tradition records a wild debate up in heaven. As the Jews are being exiled from their land, all of the holiest souls try to intercede before God on their behalf.

Abraham speaks first: “I overcame my nature and was prepared to sacrifice my only son. Won’t you remember my devotion and have mercy on my children?”

Then Isaac tries: “When I realized that my father had been commanded to slaughter me, I faithfully accepted my fate. Won’t you remember my strength and have mercy on my children?”

Next, Jacob: “I suffered so much in my lifetime. I had to work for Laban, escape from Esau, and I suffered so much raising my children. Now they are being led like sheep to the slaughter. Won’t you remember my pain and redeem them?”

Then Moses: “Wasn’t I a loyal shepherd for Israel all the years in the desert? I didn’t even get to enter the Holy Land, but brought them dutifully to its entrance. And now they go into exile – won’t you listen to my cries?”

Finally, Mother Rachel comes before God: “Master of the Universe, you know that Jacob loved me most and worked for my father for seven years in order to marry me. When the time of my marriage came, my father switched my sister for me and I didn’t begrudge my sister and I didn’t let her be shamed. I had compassion for my sister; won’t you have mercy on my children?”

Immediately, God’s mercy was awakened and He said: “For you, Rachel, I will bring Israel back, as it says: “Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded . . . Your children will return to their own land.”
From all of the holy souls that tried to save the Jewish people, Rachel’s merit was greater than everyone else’s. And why? Because she had compassion on another human being. The message is clear. When we treat others with tremendous compassion, God will treat us with nothing less.

With prayers for shalom, peace,


Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein
President

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

COMMIT TO

In the face of widespread insecurity, fear, and hopelessness, our nation desperately needs your prayers. Join us in praying for our nation, that God will heal our land.
Post a Comment
Read more

Pablo reprende a Pedro

Pero cuando Pedro vino a Antioquía, le resistí cara a cara, porque era de condenar. Pues antes que viniesen algunos de parte de Jacobo, comía con los gentiles; pero después que vinieron, se retraía y se apartaba, porque tenía miedo de los de la circuncisión. Y en su simulación participaban también los otros judíos, de tal manera que aun Bernabé fue también arrastrado por la hipocresía de ellos. Pero cuando vi que no andaban rectamente conforme a la verdad del evangelio, dije a Pedro delante de todos: Si tú, siendo judío, vives como los gentiles y no como judío, ¿por qué obligas a los gentiles a judaizar? Nosotros, judíos de nacimiento, y no pecadores de entre los gentiles, sabiendo que el hombre no es justificado por las obras de la ley, sino por la fe de Jesucristo, nosotros también hemos creído en Jesucristo, para ser justificados por la fe de Cristo y no por las obras de la ley, por cuanto por las obras de la ley nadie será justificado. Y si buscando ser justificados en Cristo, tamb...
Post a Comment
Read more

El quebrantamiento de Pedro

If you are unable to see the message below, click here to view .     Leer | Lucas 22.54-62 11 de noviembre de 2014 El orgullo de Pedro era un obstáculo para los propósitos de Dios. Cristo buscaba a un siervo-líder para que guiara a los creyentes una vez que Él regresara al cielo. El antiguo pescador era un impulsivo sabelotodo, pero el Señor vio su potencial a pesar de su arrogancia. Por eso, el gran Artesano utilizó una filosa herramienta —la humillación— para quebrantarlo. Cuando las palabras del Señor estuvieron en conflicto con la opinión de Pedro, el discípulo reprendió temerariamente a Jesús. El Salvador respondió con una virulenta reprimenda, tanto para silenciar como para enseñar ( Mt 16.21-23 ; Jn 13.5-8 ). Inclusive, Pedro incumplió su promesa de morir por el Señor cuando lo negó tres veces ...
Post a Comment
Read more