Dear JNF Campaign Leaders:

By Yossi Kahana

In this week’s Torah reading Vayechi, Jacob asks Joseph to bury him in Israel, in the place reserved for the burial of the Jewish patriarchs and matriarchs. Jacob says to Joseph, "If I have now found favor in your eyes… do not bury me now in Egypt. …As for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel (Joseph’s mother) died in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still a stretch of land to come to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.”

Jacob wanted to clarify to Joseph why he had buried Rachel in Bethlehem instead of in the traditional burial place of the patriarchs and matriarchs. He told Joseph that his mother was willing to make a spiritual sacrifice on behalf of her children. She sacrificed being buried in the Me'arat HaMachpela, in Hebron, for one reason. From this place, she could be supportive of her children in a special way that only she could accomplish. She was able to pray for the return of her children to the Holy Land.

Rashi comments that Rachel was “buried there by divine command, so that she would be of assistance to her children. When Nebuzaradan exiles them (the Israelites) in the year of 586 BCE , and they pass by there, Rachel will emerge from her grave and weep and beg mercy for them, as it is said: “A voice is heard on high, [lamentation, bitter weeping, Rachel is weeping for her children]” (Jeremiah. 31:14). And the Holy One, blessed be He, answers her, “‘There is reward for your work,’ says the Lord… ‘and the children shall return to their own border.’”

What did Rachel’s prayer have that others’ didn’t?

The Midrash tells us that at the pathetic sight of the Jews being exiled from their land, all of the patriarchs pleaded with G-d to stop the humiliation of the Jews. But G- d was unmoved by their pleas. After all, the Jewish people had been warned by many prophets that they would be exiled if they didn’t return to an upstanding Torah lifestyle. G- d had given them enough opportunities to reinvent themselves. But when Rachel had her turn to advocate on their behalf, G-d “melted” and promised her that her “children will return to their own border.” And in fact, 70 years later they returned. What did Rachel’s prayer have that the others’ didn’t? It was her self-sacrifice. Her life was about her family. Her death was about her children. That was something that G-d couldn’t ignore. If Rachel gave up the burial place that she so rightfully deserved for the sake of the Jewish people, G-d would mitigate the consequence that they rightfully deserved in order to help them recover.

The service of humility is irresistible up on high. This is the service of Rachel and the legacy of the Jewish woman.

We see the legacy and power of women in our Women for Israel (WFI) division. Our women are visionaries and, like Rachel, want to do as much as they can for families and children in Israel. WFI has engaged and enlisted women donors from across all regions and communities in the United States to join JNF in improving the lives of the women and their families throughout Israel as well as building a prosperous future for the land of Israel.