Last week, I had to go on a business trip to Columbus, OH. On my flight back to South Florida, I overheard a conversation between two women. One was asking the other about her reason for flying. The woman responded that she had just left her husband at an Army base and she was flying home to her four children, who were staying with her parents in South Florida. This woman mentioned her husband was going to be flying overseas that day to fight for our country. I could hear the fear in her voice, but I also heard pride that her husband was one of the soldiers that keep this country free.

Over the weekend, I thought about this conversation. Our soldiers overseas are constantly getting praises and appreciation from the civilians, but let’s not forget those that they leave behind. I am not saying that our soldiers do not deserve honor for what they are doing. We should support them for the wonderful job they are doing to keep our country safe and free! But let’s not forget the honor due to their wives they leave behind. Our men overseas are able to focus all of their attention on defeating the enemy because they know back at home, their wives are taking care of everything else.

In this week’s parsha, Behaaloscha, Moshe’s wife, Tzipora, hears that Eldad and Meidad have become prophets and stated, “I feel sorry for their wives.” The reason for this sigh is because Moshe needed to separate from her when he became a prophet. He needed to be in a constant state of purity because Hashem might speak with him at any time. Being the wife of the great is not an easy job. But just as Moshe deserves much praise, his wife deserves just as much. The reason Moshe was able to become the greatest leader of all time is because of his wife, Tzipora.

The Gemara brings a famous story of an ignorant shepherd named Akiva who married Rochel, the daughter of one of the greatest leaders of his generation. This man named Akiva went off to yeshiva and eventually grew to be the great Rabi Akiva, the Rosh Yeshiva of 24,000 students. Most of the Oral Torah we have today comes from Rabi Akiva, but there is only one reason he was able to reach this level: her name was Rochel. When Rabi Akiva returned to his hometown with his 24,000 students, there was a huge parade. A woman tried to get to the front but a few of the students stopped her. Rabi Akiva told his students to let her through because “All of my learning is because of her!” The world had a Rabi Akiva because Rabi Akiva had Rochel as his Rebetzin.

This Sunday is Flag Day. As we celebrate the American flag, let’s remember our troops overseas and their wives supporting them here. Also, as we continue in Sivan, the month we received the Torah, let’s remember not only the men that gave us the Torah, but the women who gave us the Torah. To all of the men: let’s give thanks to our mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters for everything they do for us. And to all of the women: Thank you!

Good Shabbos!
-yes
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