In this week’s parsha[1] it says, “Yaakov loved Rachel so he said [to Lavan], ‘I will work for you seven years, for Rachel your daughter.’”
Why does the Torah tell us that Yaakov loved Rachel and that he worked for her seven years?
Love is like wine. Wine gladdens G-d and men[2] and helps makes a person wise.[3] Nevertheless, a Kohein who drinks wine may not serve in the Beis HaMikdash[4] or even bless the congregation[5] until the effect of the wine wears off. A Rav who is even slightly inebriated may not render a halachic decision;[6] nor is one allowed to pray while intoxicated.[7]
How much wine should one drink? The Gemara[8] says that drinking a little wine will cause a feeling of satiation, but drinking much wine will leave the drinker hungry.
Moshe has a friend named Shmuel that he loves unconditionally.[9] He always expresses gratitude towards Shmuel[10] by telling him how fortunate he is to have him as a friend. One time, Shmuel says a hurtful comment to Moshe. Naturally, Moshe feels hurt at first, but soon he’ll forgive him. Why? Mishlei[11] states, “Love covers all offenses.”
Earlier we said that drinking a little wine will cause a feeling of satiation, but drinking much wine will leave the drinker hungry. So too, love without constrains can result in a disaster,[12] as it says, “Love corrupts clear thinking.”[13]
What the Medrash is saying about love isn’t such a foreign concept. In fact, we find the same thing by honey. Shlomo HaMelech[14] says that when you find honey, eat what is sufficient for you. But too much honey is not good and will cause you to vomited it up.”
The word for love in Hebrew is אהבה. To which, the Zohar[15] states that אהבה is an acronym of אין [דבר] העומד בפני הרצון, Nothing stands in the way of one’s desire or as the idiom goes, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
Why did Yaakov spend seven years working for Lavan to acquire Rachel as his wife? It’s one word: love. When love is used properly by a person, he can accomplish anything he sets his mind to!
Interestingly, the Mishnah Berurah[16] and Rambam[17] say, “There is nothing that stands in the way of Teshuvah” (i.e. returning to G-d).
What does this have to do with love? If one returns to G-d out of love, his sins turn into merits! [18] With Hashem’s help, may we merit to us use our yeitzer hara to accomplish things that will further enhance us serving our Creator!
Why does the Torah tell us that Yaakov loved Rachel and that he worked for her seven years?
Love is like wine. Wine gladdens G-d and men[2] and helps makes a person wise.[3] Nevertheless, a Kohein who drinks wine may not serve in the Beis HaMikdash[4] or even bless the congregation[5] until the effect of the wine wears off. A Rav who is even slightly inebriated may not render a halachic decision;[6] nor is one allowed to pray while intoxicated.[7]
How much wine should one drink? The Gemara[8] says that drinking a little wine will cause a feeling of satiation, but drinking much wine will leave the drinker hungry.
Moshe has a friend named Shmuel that he loves unconditionally.[9] He always expresses gratitude towards Shmuel[10] by telling him how fortunate he is to have him as a friend. One time, Shmuel says a hurtful comment to Moshe. Naturally, Moshe feels hurt at first, but soon he’ll forgive him. Why? Mishlei[11] states, “Love covers all offenses.”
Earlier we said that drinking a little wine will cause a feeling of satiation, but drinking much wine will leave the drinker hungry. So too, love without constrains can result in a disaster,[12] as it says, “Love corrupts clear thinking.”[13]
What the Medrash is saying about love isn’t such a foreign concept. In fact, we find the same thing by honey. Shlomo HaMelech[14] says that when you find honey, eat what is sufficient for you. But too much honey is not good and will cause you to vomited it up.”
The word for love in Hebrew is אהבה. To which, the Zohar[15] states that אהבה is an acronym of אין [דבר] העומד בפני הרצון, Nothing stands in the way of one’s desire or as the idiom goes, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
Why did Yaakov spend seven years working for Lavan to acquire Rachel as his wife? It’s one word: love. When love is used properly by a person, he can accomplish anything he sets his mind to!
Interestingly, the Mishnah Berurah[16] and Rambam[17] say, “There is nothing that stands in the way of Teshuvah” (i.e. returning to G-d).
What does this have to do with love? If one returns to G-d out of love, his sins turn into merits! [18] With Hashem’s help, may we merit to us use our yeitzer hara to accomplish things that will further enhance us serving our Creator!
[1] Bereishis 29:18.
[2] Shoftim 9:13.
[3] Yuma 76b.
[4] Vayikra 10:8-9.
[5] Ta’anis 26b and Orach Chayim 128:38.
[6] Kereisos 13b; Rema, Yoreh Dei’ah 242:13.
[7] Eruvin 64a; Orach Chayim 99:1.
[8] Berachos 35b.
[9] See Avos 5:16.
[10] As Mishlei (16:24) says, “Words of pleasantness are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bone.”
[11] 10:12.
[12] Rav Schwab on Chumash by Rabbi Myer Schwab, page 327.
[13] Bereishis Rabbah 55:8.
[14] Mishlei 25:16 and 27.
[15] Volume 2, Terumah, page 162b.
[16] 128:129.
[17] Mishnah Torah, Hilchos Teshuvah 3:14.
[18] See Yuma 86b; Orchos Tzaddikim, Sha’ar 26, HaTeshuvah; Ben Ish Chai, Hilchos Chanukah, Pesichah and Kli Yakar Al HaTorah, Vayikra 6:9).