Holiness in the Trenches | Rabbi Reuven Schmeltzer

The Medrash in Eicha recounts one of the most critical moments in our history, when the Ribono shel Olam was going to annihilate Klal Yisroel together with the חורבן הבית. Avraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov and Moshe intercede on our behalf, but to no avail. Until Rachel Imenu stood up and said: Ribono shel Olam, I was מוותר, I gave up the privilege of being the wife of Yaakov Avinu to my sister Leah. If I did that, you could also forgive Klal Yisroel. And at that moment, the Ribono shel Olam said, Rochel Imenu, stop crying. I will listen to you. The question is obvious. It's unthinkable that Rochel was greater than Avraham and Yitzchak or Moshe. What was it in Rochel's plea that it was able to do more than Avraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov and Moshe Rabeinu? Maybe the answer, to quote Rochel's words, It was terribly, terribly difficult for me to give up the privilege of being the wife of Yaakov Avinu. In fact, as Rochel said herself, at first, I was not equal to the challenge. I made a Siman with my husband, Yaakov, so Leah will not take that privilege from me. But then, in a moment of greatness, I was able to overcome my passion, my desire, and I gave it up for Leah. Unlike Avraham and Yitzchak, that were able to go to the Akeidah b’Simcha, Rochel, at first, wasn't able to do what she had to do. And that is a superpower in the Ribono shel Olam’s world. When someone does the impossible, that's the button that opens all doors. We live in a generation that has given new meaning to the words: הוקשה עלי הדבר עד מאד. We live in a world that has abandoned any vestige of Tznius, that has literally gone insane. And when we are devoted to Kedushah, we are continuing the legacy of Rochel Imenu. We are doing the impossible on a daily basis. And if I could suggest to the precious Vayimaen family around the world, when we have a need of any sort, whether it's health, Parnassah, Shidduchim, Shalom Bayis, turn to the Ribono shel Olam in a very precious moment and say: Ribono shel Olam, I so much want to be the light in the darkness. I so much want to continue the legacy of Rochel Imenu. I so much want to light up this dark world with my Kedushah. But I need the health, I need the Shidduch, I need the Parnassah to be able to do it. Please listen to my Tefillah, so I can continue being that Kiddush Shem Shomayim. It’s not a coincidence that our generation has a specific deep connection to Mama Rochel, because we are doing the same work. R’ Chaim Shmuelevitz once went to Kever Rochel with a list of Cholim and other needs. And he came in and he started crying uncontrollably. And he says: Mama, your son Chaimke’s here. Mama, he said with great love, the Ribono shel Olam tells you: Stop crying. But Chaimke tells you, Veyn, Mama, veyn. Cry, Mama, cry. And I feel very confident to say that we, who are continuing Rochel’s golden legacy, have that privilege to say: Mama, cry for us, so we can continue being this light in the darkness. Mama, cry for us that we can continue being this Kvod Shomayim. And let us hope that soon we'll hear those precious words once again, where the Ribono shel Olam will tell us, יש שכר לפעולתכם ושבו בנים לגבולם.