Despite all

The Medrash tells us that when Leah took Rachel’s place as Yaakov’s wife, everyone ridiculed her for it. Even sailors and wayfarers used to talk and say, “This Leah is not what she seems; although she acts like a big tzaddekess she is rotten and mean inside. Otherwise how could she so cruelly fool her sister by playing along with her fathers plan?” Even Yaakov thought this way of her, came to hate her, and finally decided to divorce her. But by that time she had children already, and once she gave him children he reconsidered and said “Am I going to divorce the mother of my own children?” Although he withheld from divorcing her, however he never accepted her. When did he change his view? In our parshah, close to his death, the pasuk says “and [Yaakov] bowed before the head of his bed”. Who was the “head bedmate” of Yaakov? Leah!! Here is where Yaakov finally approved Leah’s act.

Thus far the Medrash. I think there is a powerful lesson here. Leah lived practically her whole life being misunderstood and ridiculed. The strength of character that she possessed to be able to live with this and go on successfully raising six Sh’vatim is beyond our comprehension. It is awesome to contemplate. We learn from her that it is possible, it can be done. We will not be understood in all that we do. So be it. We go forward anyhow.