December 1, 2022 / 7 Kislev, 5783 • Parshat Vayeitzei
Issue 746
Dedicated in loving memory of Mrs. Miriam Friedman

Emulating Rachel's Beauty

Leah's eye's were tender, while Rachel was a woman of
beautiful facial features and complexion.

Gen. 29:17



Spiritually, Rachel’s beauty indicates that she personified the perfectly-righteous individual, unblemished in the performance of both the active and the passive commandments.

True beauty is the harmonious blend of diverse colors or sounds; one color or note by itself is not an example of beauty. Similarly, we all have one particular, individual strength or proclivity that we excel at, and on which we find it easiest to focus when it comes to fulfilling our Divine mission. But only a relationship with G-d that transcends personal inclinations, mustering all our strengths and all our weaknesses, can be termed “beautiful.”

G-d wants us to realize our fullest potential, marshaling all aspects of our personalities – even aspects of our personality that we might prefer to ignore or even forget about – toward promoting our own spiritual growth and that of the world at large.

—from Daily Wisdom 3