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How could Yaakov respond so harshly to Rochel's plea for children, telling her 'Am I in place of God?' The shiur develops a yesod about the difference between creating dependency versus restoring initiative: those who feel 'dead' (worthless) lack the ability to help themselves. True chesed (חסד) means empathizing with suffering to restore someone's sense of worth, enabling them to find their own solutions.
This shiur examines one of the most troubling episodes in the lives of our Avos - Yaakov's angry response to Rochel when she begged him to pray for children, saying 'Am I in place of God?' The Midrash states that because of this insensitive response, Yaakov's children would later hear the same words from Rochel's son Yosef. The Rav addresses several perplexing questions: How could Yaakov, the greatest of the Avos, respond so callously? Why does the Mesilas Yesharim consider this a minor sin when it seems so harsh? Most puzzling, why should Rochel's son Yosef deliver the same insensitive message to his brothers - isn't this punishing the victim? The shiur explores the Talmudic teaching that four people are considered 'like dead': those without children, those who lost their wealth, lepers, and the blind. Through the example of Dasan and Aviram, who were considered 'dead' when Moshe returned to Egypt, we see how this spiritual death affects one's ability to function in society. The common thread is a feeling of worthlessness and inability to contribute.
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Parshas Vayeitzei - Rachel's plea to Yaakov for children
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