Shalom Chaverim!
The strong maternal longing for children is central to this week’s Torah portion, Vayetzei. Both Rachel and Leah endure infertility – Rachel for many years, Leah after having children but wanting more – experiencing anxiety, worry, and broken-heartedness, hopelessness and yet still hope for creating their family. They also suffer from the unfortunate and emotionally destructive rivalry between them…as well as additional complicated emotions arising from their unique circumstances, the involvement of concubines as surrogates, the fact that they are sisters married to the same man, their situation vis-à-vis their father who disadvantageously employs their husband Jacob, and more.
A poem by the great Israeli poet, Rachel (Rachel Bluwstein), beautifully and tenderly conveys her longing for motherhood. Amidst so many other thoughts and emotions experienced by Rachel and Leah, surely similar thoughts to those of Rachel the poetess sung through their souls. The poem was set to music in 1994 by vocal virtuoso artist Achinoam Nini (Noa). Listen here… The words are below.
SHABBAT SHALOM!
Rabbi Michael
Uri (Akara)
I wish I had a son
A little boy
Bright, with black curly hair
I would take his hand in mine
And stroll slowly, slowly
Through the garden
Little boy
Uri, I’d call him
My Uri!
How gentle and clear this tiny name
A glimmer of joy
For my little boy,
Uri, I’d call him
Uri, I’d call
But I, still bitter as Rachel,
I am still praying as Hannah in Shiloh,
I am still waiting for him.
I will
Wait
little Uri