The world is full of factors that affect our own development from birth, through childhood, and into adulthood. We can often feel that these factors are beyond our control, and it can feel hopeless. Some people may even ask, “What is the point in trying?"
"Do I really stand a chance opposite all the odds against my own growth as a righteous, productive, and God fearing individual?”
The parsha addresses this question. It begins with the praises of Rebecca, Yitzchak’s newfound wife. It describes her as, “Rebecca, daughter of Bethuel… from Padan Aram, and sister of Laban…” We must ask, why is it so important for us to know all about her family and previous city? What’s more, Rashi, the 11th century French Torah commentator par excellence, points out that these descriptions are superfluous, as they repeat information already provided in the previous parsha. Rashi explains that the repetition serves as praise for Rebecca. Despite an upbringing being surrounded by people of corrupt ways, she emerged with stellar character and righteousness.
The Maharal of Prague of the 16th century, one of the great supercommentators on Rashi and a master of the mystical teachings of Judaism, expounds on Rashi’s comment. He tells us that these three aspects of Rebecca’s background are actually three major pillars on what influences a person’s approach to life. Bethuel, Rebecca’s father, symbolizes the people who raised her. Laban, her brother, represents her social interactions and influences. And Padan Aram, her hometown, represents the surrounding environment. The greatest praise of Rebecca was her ability to overcome each one of these. Let’s examine each one.
The parental figure is a child’s introduction and guide to the world. A child will naturally mirror the behaviors of their parents by observing them regularly, and modern day psychology will tell us that the child absorbs the parents’ conscious and subconscious perception of the world. The accomplishment of Rebecca, to overcome the influence of parents, teachers, and all of her role models who were immersed in wicked conduct is indeed a grand praise for her behavior.
The next major influence on a person is their social environment. The family and friends who surround a child have a major impact on how that child will approach the world. Childhood relationships and social groups from youth define the way we relate to the world from thereon. When the Torah is telling us that Rebecca came from such a dysfunctional and corrupt society, it is quite the praise.
The last major influence listed by the Torah is a bit more esoteric to comprehend. The city where a person is from, according to the Maharal’s Kabbalistic understanding, can have a major effect on whom a person develops into. The Maharal explains that it is something unique that can have almost a metaphysical impact on how the person grows up. Rebecca was from, Padan Aram, a city known for breeding wicked people. Rebecca, to her credit and valor, was able to even overcome the non-corporeal influences around her.
Rabbi Yitzchak Berkowitz asks a question on this explanation from Rashi and the Maharal. He asks, is this telling us that she was just perfect from birth? Was our matriarch Rebecca just superwoman of extraordinary character? Rabbi Berkowitz answers that this is not the case. We have missed the lesson if we think that Rashi and the Maharal are telling us how superhuman Rebecca is. Rather, they suggest that the Torah is teaching us a profound lesson here to impact our everyday lives and essence. There are major influences in this world. They are so strong; one may come to think that they are impossible to overcome. Our great matriarch, Rebecca, showed us that it is not so. She paved the way for us. We can surmount everything out there and prevail as true tzaddikim, righteous individuals.
We, the Jewish people, as descendants of our great matriarchs and patriarchs, have within us the potential to overcome all obstacles. Do not resign all hope to succeed in living a life of purity even though we’re surrounded by a world of often not-so-pure surroundings. You can triumph over all odds against you from your environment, family, and all persuasions around us. We carry this message within us for ourselves and for our children. This is a gift from our matriarch, Rebecca. Through knowing we have this ability within us, we can respond to the question of giving up and say, “Yes, you do stand a chance. You are a child of Rebecca our Matriarch. The ability to overcome all odds is in your blood and heritage as a part of the Jewish people!”
