Biblical Babes: Rachel & Leah
This month in the Torah we read the story of two matriarchs, Rachel and Leah. Their story is about the the forces of sisterly allegiance and female competition within the cramped quarters of a love triangle. It’s amazing that a story 3,000 years old can hold so much wisdom for women in contending with romance, female rivalry, and sisterly love, even today. Have you ever heard your own story in this Torah? Check it out:
Rachel and Leah were sisters. Eventually, both became the wives of Jacob. To start, Jacob and Rachel were in love. Though Rachel’s father Laban promised the two could marry, the couple worried Laban would try to trick Jacob into marrying his eldest daughter, Leah instead. To prevent a sneaky switch, Rachel and Jacob decided on a secret sign Rachel would make from beneath the veil at their wedding. As they suspected, Laban switched brides on the day of the wedding. At the last minute, out of love for her sister, Rachel taught Leah the secret sign. Rachel didn’t want her sister to lose face. Later, Rachel married Jacob too, but the soap operatics don’t stop there...
Rachel, who was beauty and was loved by Jacob, suffered in trying to conceive. Leah had many children, but was never known for her looks and unloved by her Jacob. As a result, the two sisters spent their lives locked in a grueling, painful competition to see who could give their shared husband the most children, and, by extension, win the bulk of his favor.
Rachel and Leah’s story hints at a complicated relationship between two women rife with jealousy and turmoil, but laced also with fierce love. Interpersonally, the women’s envy destroyed them both.It almost destroyed their family too-- their children internalized their mothers’ jealousy and turned against each other. Rachel and Leah’s story warns us what can happen f when women can cut each other down rather than support each other, in solidarity, from love.
“The worst part of success is trying to find somebody who is happy for you”
Possible Group Discussion Questions
In what instance do you find yourself feeling the most jealous of other women?
How has jealousy toward other women held you back?
How has jealousy toward other women held our collective womanhood back?
Think back to an experience where you were envious and you missed your chance at being your best self. Can you share that story now, let it go, and forgive yourself?
What does jealousy teach us?
How can we move beyond jealousy?