Beyond Quick Fixes: The Deeper Meaning of Seeking Blessings from a Tzaddik

In this week's Parsha (Genesis 30:1-2) Rochel recognizes her infertility and becomes jealous that her sister Leah bore children, and therefore Rochel demands from Yaakov to give her children. Yaakov rebukes Rochel asking, "am I instead of Hashem, who has withheld from you children[1]?" Several questions can be asked about this peculiar exchange. First of all, Yaakov was able to have children with Leah, shouldn't Rochel realize that she is the source of the couple's infertility, and if so, what exactly is she demanding of Yaakov? Also, is Yaakov's response to Rochel appropriate? Rochel is grieving her situation, shouldn't Yaakov speak with more sensitivity?

The Gemara in Bava Basra (127a) says that Rav Pinchas ben Choma taught: if someone has a sick person in their home they should go to a Talmid Chochom to pray for them[2]. This is an important idea in Judaism, however, one that is often not fully understood and misapplied. The Gemara clearly states to physically go to a Talmid Chochom and ask him to pray for them, if it is the Talmid Chochom’s prayers that are needed why can't a messenger or a letter be sent to request a blessing on behalf of the ill person? The idea of actually going to the Talmid Chochom is a lot more than making an in-person request, it is to facilitate an opportunity to learn from his ways. One of the reasons that illness befalls is for people to contemplate the true meaning of life, purpose in this world, increase their efforts in prayer, strengthen their connection to Torah and Mitzvos, and improve their overall relationship with Hashem[3]. Rav Pinchas ben Choma is giving advice on how to improve oneself and teaches that when one physically goes to a Talmid Chochom, learns from his ways, including how to properly daven, they become a better person, and in that merit, Hashem gives them the Yeshua that is needed.

 Rochel, realizing she is in need of salvation, went to Yaakov, the only Talmid Chochom in her vicinity. From that perspective, what did she do that warranted a rebuke from Yaakov? Yaakov felt that Rochel was asking for gift, and his response was intended to teach Rochel the proper way to approach a tzadik for a blessing and request an invocation. “Am I in the place of Hashem” meant that only Hashem can provide deliverance just because He chose to, with no catalyst. However, when a Talmid Chochom is asked to intervene on one's behalf, self-improvement is a crucial component for the prayer to be answered.

In a world where many are searching for brachos, segulos, and other quick fixes for their life challenges, we must not overlook the more important aspects of these principles. As children of Hashem, we should never forget that we have a direct line of connection and can always call out to Him in our times of need. Likewise, we also believe in the advice of Rav Pinchas ben Choma and have faith that a Tzadik can intervene on our behalf[4]. However, we must never lose sight of the idea that self-reflection and character improvement are crucial components of asking for a blessing, and are in fact, the essence of why we go to the righteous person.

[1]ותרא רחל כי לא ילדה ליעקב ותקנא רחל באחתה ותאמר אל־יעקב הבה־לי בנים ואם־אין מתה אנכי. ויחר־אף יעקב ברחל ויאמר התחת אלקים אנכי אשר־מנע ממך פרי־בטן (בראשית ל:א-ב)

[2]דרש ר' פנחס בר חמא כל שיש לו חולה בתוך ביתו ילך אצל חכם ויבקש עליו רחמים שנא' (משלי טז, יד) חמת מלך מלאכי מות ואיש חכם יכפרנה (בבא בתרא קטז א)

[3]כמו שספר החינוך, מצוה ש״ס, מסביר ענין של מעשר בהמה: ולכן בהעלות כל איש מעשר כל בקר וצאן שלו שנה שנה במקום שעסק החכמה והתורה שם והיא ירושלים, ששם הסנהדרין יודעי דעת ומביני מדע, וכמו כן נעלה לשם מעשר תבואתנו בארבע שני השמטה, כמו שידוע שמעשר שני נאכל שם, וכן נטע רבעי שנאכל שם, על כל פנים או ילך שם בעל הממון עצמו ללמד תורה, או ישלח שם אחד מבניו שילמד שם ויהיה נזון באותן פרות. ומתוך כך יהיה בכל בית ובית מכל ישראל איש חכם יודע התורה, אשר ילמד בחכמתו כל בית אביו…

[4]It is beyond the scope of this discussion if in this regard a righteous person already in the next world is the same as a living Tzadik. The topic is worthy of its own essay, hopefully in the near future.