Thursday, December 1, 2022

Caring For Others

Why did Yaakov call the shepherds, who he had just encountered, אחי if he had no connection to them?  What did Yaakov see in Rachel that immediately made him know this was to be his wife?  Why was Yaakov asking about the well? 

The Or Hachayim (in first peshat,) says that Yaakov asked about the shepherds not opening the well because he was considered about the צער בעלי חיים of the sheep.  Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky explains that since Yaakov was about to give the shepherds rebuke, he started out with nice words so that they would listen to his rebuke.

I saw in the name of Rav Shlomo Carlebach says Yaakov saw Rachel was באה אם הצאן, she wasn't רועה את הצאןת, she led them gently without force.  That is what told Yakaov this was the right wife for him.  It was about caring even for the animals, for strangers, that told Yaakov this was the right one. 

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