Leah - Vayeitze 5773

The first four children of Leah were named after the verbs:

Reuven from ro’eh, see -“God saw my humiliation, for now my husband will love me”;

Simeon/Shimon from shome’ah, hear – “God heard that I am unloved”;

Levi from yilaveh, join – “my husband with join with me”;

Yehudah/Judah from odeh, thankfully praise – “let me gratefully praise God”

29:35 then she stopped giving birth.

Leah prayed to God to grant her heart’s desire, and what was she asking for – not a giant palace with a thousand servants, not a serene life of contemplation with no need for hard work, no luxuries or entertainment, but something simple, precious, and yet arrogantly demanding – the love of her husband, whom she married against his choosing, whom she with her plain looks and weak eyes was not entitled for.  He worked for seven years to marry his beloved, Rachel – Leah has worked her entire life to earn his love. 

Don’t we all wish for things we are not entitled to but yearn to deserve, simple, natural things that seems like everyone else has – caring loving parents, perfect spouses, respectful children, interesting work, supporting friends, and completely underserved, impossible dreams.  We think we demand something simple and rightfully ours  - a perfect life.  In fact we are asking for no less than a miracle – that other people endowed with the free will somehow would love and care about us.  We want God to see our affliction, hear our cry, fulfil our needs, but if and when we mature, we thankfully praise God for whatever He’s given. Whatever else comes after this point is a bonus, an extra reward as in Issachar from s’chari, in “God has granted my reward” and the irrational optimistic hope for permanent happiness as in Zebulun from yizbleni, in 30:20 “God has endowed (zvadani) me with a good endowment (zeved) this time, a permanent home will my husband make with me, for I have born him six sons” This statement is just so messianic – six sons stand for six thousand years we labour to serve God, to deserve His love, to come close to Him and to find a permanent place in His home.

My husband made an interesting point – how could Leah complain that Jacob did not love her when she had children with him?  How can we complain when God has been with us for almost six thousand years?  Isaiah 50:1 Where is your mother's bill of divorce? We are here, we are alive, despite the terrible dangers and hatred of other nations, whatever good things we have, the leisure time and the opportunity to learn is an extra reward, that one day will stay with us forever, will remain permanent endowment, as in Zebulun.