DIVREI TORAH ON PARSHAS TOLDOS
Rashi explains that the Torah reminds us that Rivka came from Padan Arom in order to teach people that, despite coming from a wicked town, and family, she still succeeded in being a Tzadekes. This message intends to do more than describe just how special Rivka Emainu was; it also intends to teach us a lesson.
Environments don’t dictate peoples future. For example, I’ve, clearly, seen that children of divorced families aren’t always negatively affected by being “raised” in an ineffective family. I’ve found that the children of divorced homes were either less healthy or, as is often the case, more healthy than the average child.
People are definitely affected by their surroundings, but how they are affected is up to them. Some of them see the emotional, or spiritual, unhealthiness around them as a “life sentence”. Others see it as a challenge and, even more, as a warning to them, as to what their own lives may become, if they don’t take their lives into their own hands.
While some people aren’t challenged by their family, or town, they may be challenged in a myriad of other ways. Instead of seeing those challenges as life sentences, they should remember something I learned from my parents. They were able to, almost immediately, go from “oh no”, to “here’s what we’ll do”.
Rivka’s success, like those of the Avos, represents another example of Maaseh Ovos Simon Lebonim, their actions and successes, set precedents, making it easier for their children to achieve those same successes. The next time people are confronted with what seems to be insurmountable problems, they should remember that no problem decides their future, their reactions to those problems decides their future.
Our Dinner begins Motzei Shabbos at 7:30 at Ateres Charna which is located at 790 North Main Street Spring Valley. You can donate on line, by visiting our website at Areivim.com or at the following site, http://www.dinnermanagement.com/dinner/areivim/. In the name of the entire organization, I’d like thank you very much for caring about Areivim and Klal Yisroel.
Environments don’t dictate peoples future. For example, I’ve, clearly, seen that children of divorced families aren’t always negatively affected by being “raised” in an ineffective family. I’ve found that the children of divorced homes were either less healthy or, as is often the case, more healthy than the average child.
People are definitely affected by their surroundings, but how they are affected is up to them. Some of them see the emotional, or spiritual, unhealthiness around them as a “life sentence”. Others see it as a challenge and, even more, as a warning to them, as to what their own lives may become, if they don’t take their lives into their own hands.
While some people aren’t challenged by their family, or town, they may be challenged in a myriad of other ways. Instead of seeing those challenges as life sentences, they should remember something I learned from my parents. They were able to, almost immediately, go from “oh no”, to “here’s what we’ll do”.
Rivka’s success, like those of the Avos, represents another example of Maaseh Ovos Simon Lebonim, their actions and successes, set precedents, making it easier for their children to achieve those same successes. The next time people are confronted with what seems to be insurmountable problems, they should remember that no problem decides their future, their reactions to those problems decides their future.
Our Dinner begins Motzei Shabbos at 7:30 at Ateres Charna which is located at 790 North Main Street Spring Valley. You can donate on line, by visiting our website at Areivim.com or at the following site, http://www.dinnermanagement.com/dinner/areivim/. In the name of the entire organization, I’d like thank you very much for caring about Areivim and Klal Yisroel.
The author can be contacted at shmuelgluck@areivim.com
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