Page 40 - HaMizrachi #8 Pesach

Rabbi David Milston
RIVKA’S TWINS

and the Four Sons

D uring Rivka’s “the long-awaited values, and virulently against idolatry. finally understood the right path and the

However, if this was what Rivka thought,
children
pregnancy,
folly of any other alternative.
struggled within her” (Genesis
25:22). Rivka was so disturbed by it would be difficult to understand her The naïve child, easily influenced by
concern.
the movements in her body that she everyone and anyone, can be likened to
desperately turns to G-d for guidance. Possibly, Rivka saw her child becoming the Tam. Sometimes translated as the
a character of shallowness and simple son, he is indeed interested in
Rashi comments on the “struggling” superficiality; a person easily impressed understanding, yet he lacks the basic
inside the womb: “Our Rabbis explain and influenced by any experience he ability to differentiate, and is therefore
that the word vayitrotsetsu – struggling, had. He would be excited when in the in danger of being led down the wrong
means running, moving quickly. presence of the righteous, but equally path.
Whenever Rivka passed by the doors of excited and swayed when mingling with
Torah, Ya’akov moved convulsively in his non-believers. He wouldn’t be inherently The fourth child described in the
efforts to leave the womb, and whenever evil; just naive and shallow. Haggadah is “the one who does not
she passed by the gate of a pagan temple, know how to ask.” Many portray this
Eisav moved convulsively in his efforts Lastly is the possibility that the child child as an infant. However, if anyone
to leave the womb.” was self-centered. He would manipulate knows how to ask, it is the infant. Infants
others by pretending to believe in their ask more than adults do because they are
Rivka was not disturbed by normal cause, only to simultaneously negotiate not deterred by what people may think
and daily sporadic movements, but by with those who held the opposing view. of them. This son does not know how
specific movements, in defined places. Therefore, when he would visit the to ask because he is not the slightest bit
Rivka turned to G-d, who explained pagans, he was a pagan, and when he interested in anything or anyone else. He
that her strange feelings were due to the would visit the monotheists, he suddenly is interested in himself, and thus even
fact that she was carrying twins; twins became a believer in G-d. when he appears to be asking it is not for
with very different, even opposing, real.
personalities. It is interesting to note the similarities
between these four suggestions and the We will not always merit that our child
G-d’s answer seems to appease Rivka, four sons mentioned at the Seder. be the Chacham. However, the Haggadah
but why? reminds us that these other sons are
A person enthusiastically following still our sons. The Haggadah instructs
We can assume that the new information idolatry while equally enthusiastically us: you must educate them according to
was that she was bearing twins. Before negating Torah can be paralleled with who they are. Every Jew is a Jew, every
her prayers, Rivka had assumed she was the Rasha, the wicked son, who makes Jewish child has a place at the Seder
pregnant with only one child. table, they are all part of Am Yisrael, and
a point of sitting at the table; not to ask
It is possible that the embryo’s questions, but to make statements that it is our duty to sensitively relate to each Reach over 200,000 people in
reaction near the pagan temple was deny the entire process taking place. If child according to their own individual
excitement, while the movements near he simply doesn’t believe, he need not characters. hundreds of shuls and communities
the monotheistic seminary were an come, but the Rasha insists on joining It is also our duty to sensitively relate to
expression of hate and ridicule. If this us. For him, it is not enough not to each and every Jew, wherever they may all over the US and worldwide
is the case, we can certainly understand believe; he wants to ridicule those who be religiously, and to bring back those
Rivka’s mollification at the news that she do. ‘fifth sons’ who never even make it to the
was carrying twins, at least one of whom table.
would be righteous. A person totally committed to
monotheism, and strongly opposed to To advertise in HaMizrachi email
We could suggest the exact opposite; the idolatry, can be likened to the Chacham, Rabbi David Milston is the Rosh
embryo was excited about monotheistic the wise son. He is the son who has Midrasha at Midreshet HaRova
production@mizrachi.org
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