Parshat Vayetze
A Shepherd's
Love
In Parshat Vayetze, we learn about
the young adult lives of our ancestors Ya'akov,
Rachel, and Leah. They are immersed in a shepherding culture. Their parents are
shepherds, and they are named after sheep. Ya'akov
means "Follower," Rachel means "Ewe," and Leah means
"Wild Mother." As they mature, they all work in the family business.
When Ya'akov first becomes aware of his connection
with God, his expectations are drawn from the shepherd-sheep relationship: he
asks God to protect him and feed him.
Three levels
of care seem to emerge here. When Ya'akov, Rachel and
Leah are born, their parents see them as part of the flock under their parental
care. As Ya'akov, Rachel and Leah mature, they become
caretakers. Over time, they come to recognize that they, too, depend on others.
They come to recognize that this care is a gift of God's grace. All at the same
time, they are sheep, cared for by human shepherds; shepherds, who care for
their flocks; and sheep cared for by God.
It's not
difficult to understand what it might mean, spiritually, to be both sheep and
shepherds. Receiving love is also a call to give love. But what does it mean to
speak of a third layer to this seemingly complete cycle? What might it mean to
become a sheep relative to the Divine shepherd? Perhaps it hints that the cycle
of love is a gateway to spiritual awareness. Many people say they recognize God
in their experiences of unconditional love. These experiences may come easily, as part of early family
life or they may come as surprises later in life. Either way, their power and
presence often sustain us through the most difficult times.
Where do you
find the source of your ability to love?
Return to Reb Laura's "Taste of
Torah" list.
Return to "Teachings from Our Rabbis and
Friends" list.
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