This week’s Divrei Simcha is based on something I read by Rav Yisroel Miller and will hopefully answer two questions that many people have asked: 1) In this week’s parsha, we learn that Devora, who is Rivka’ nurse, dies and is greatly mourned. Who is this Devora woman? 2) How could it be that Rivka, Rochel, and Leah were all brought up in the house of wicked people but still were able to be righteous?

Let’s begin to answer these with a history lesson. Our forefather, Avraham, was born as an idol worshipper, and did not start serving G-d until he was 3 years old or 40 years old (depends on which opinion is followed). At the age of 52, Avraham started teaching others about Judaism and he opened his own kiruv (outreach) center. Many people followed Avraham, but two people laughed at his ideas of one G-d. They were Besuel and Lavan, Rivka’s father and brother, but there was one person in that household that became very interested in what Avraham was teaching. This person was the family nurse, Devora. When Rivka was born, Devora was the primary person that took care of her, and Devora taught Rivka all about Judaism. While most children were listening to the story of the Three Little Bears, Rivka was hearing the story of how Avraham and Sara performed chesed. Rivka was brought up with the proper Jewish values because Devora taught them to her. Devora was the reason Rivka merited to be married to Yitzchak. When Rivka got married to Yitzchak, she took along her “rebbe”, Devora, to be with her. But we see in this week’s parsha that Devora was not in Rivka’s house when she passed away, but instead, she was with Yaakov. Why was she with Yaakov?

The reason is because Rivka sent Devora to Lavan’s house. Rivka wanted to follow what Avraham and Sara did and therefore, she wanted her son to marry a relative (like Yitzchak married one of Avraham’s relatives). Rivka knew that her brother was wicked, so she sent Devora to work as a “rebbe” again and to bring up a new generation. Devora went to Lavan’s house and brought up Rochel and Leah and these two women learned the proper path of Torah from Devora also. When Yaakov and his wives were leaving Lavan’s house to go back home, they took Devora along with them. Unfortunately, Devora never made it back home and died along the way.

Many people read the verse about Devora but do not think much about her. She is only mentioned once in the Torah and it seems like she must not be an important player. The exact opposite is actually true: Devora was an extremely significant person. Devora taught 3 of our 4 Mothers! Just because a person does not get the spotlight does not mean they are not important!

Good Shabbos!
-yes
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