It’s Okay to Have a Split Personality
Every one of us possesses two distinct personalities. We are in possession of an animal soul and a G-dly soul. Every act of goodness is another victory for the G-dly soul in us. Our struggle is made easier when we realize that, ultimately, we will win the war against evil.
How was Rebecca Comforted
Rebecca is enduring terrible pains during her only pregnancy. Upon seeking G-d’s counsel she is told that she is carrying twins who will grow up to become two rival powers. They will be engaged in an incessant struggle for supremacy. Ultimately, the older one will serve the younger one, she was informed.
Strangely enough, Rebecca was calmed by the knowledge that she is destined to become the mother of two brothersnations who will be in a constant battle! The question begs to be asked, how could her painful pregnancy be made more tolerable by knowing that she will give birth to this rivalry?
Furthermore, travail within pregnancy is not unusual. Why is Rebecca’s suffering given so much attention in the Torah?
Going in Both Directions
We can gain some insight into Rebecca’s dilemma and how she dealt with it, by referring to the words of our sages on this matter. Our sages state that Rebecca’s pain – both physical and emotional – came as a result of a bizarre phenomenon. Whenever she would pass a house associated with idolatry she would feel labor pains. It seemed as if her fetus was attracted to this evil place and wanted to be born. When she passed a house of worship and study (that existed even before Sinai, as our sages state) she felt identical pains, suggesting that her unborn child was attracted to holy places.
“What kind of a child was this to be?” was Rebecca’s true concern. Did this child possess a split personality?
Moreover, Rebecca knew that she was destined to become the mother of a special nation. She realized that her personal experience during her pregnancy portended the nature of the Jewish people. Did the schizophrenic behavior of this unborn child augur an insecure future for the Jewish nation?
If this child would have had a negative character she would have accepted this as a challenge to alter and refine its nature. Certainly, if the child was destined to be good and holy, she appreciated her role as the one to nurture this goodness and holiness. But, what was she to so with a child that was unstable? This is why Rebecca was so disturbed.
When she was informed that she was destined to have twins and that they would be engaged in a struggle for supremacy, her fears were allayed. There was not one contradictory entity, but two distinct forces that would do battle with one another. Rebecca had no illusions about the challenge that was in store for her and her progeny. There would be a constant battle of good versus evil, but ultimately the good will prevail.
Our Twin Personalities
Every one of us possesses these two distinct personalities. We are in possession of an animal soul and a G-dly soul. When we, on occasion, alternate between good and evil, we should not denigrate the good we did and conclude that it was disingenuous, or that we are mixed up and unstable. We are in possession of two distinct souls that are struggling for control over us. Every act of goodness is another victory for the G-dly soul in us and should be appreciated.
Our struggle is made easier when we realize that, ultimately, we will win the war against evil. This message underlies the prophetic words spoken to Rebecca: “the older one will serve the younger one.” The simple meaning is that ultimately the Jewish nation will no longer be oppressed by the more powerful nations represented by Esau.
On another level, the “older one” is an allusion to the animal soul which enters the person at birth and is therefore older than the G-dly soul that is not fully manifested within the person until Bas or Bar Mitzvah.
Bas and Bar Mitzvah can also be applied collectively to the future Age of Redemption. As we live in the era of Galusexile, the “older” animal soul still maintains its seniority; at least, for most people. And, although we all have a G-dly soul, it has yet to manifest itself fully. We are, in some ways still spiritually immature and preparing for our Bar Mitzvah when the G-dly soul will make a powerful appearance. When that happens, the Animal Soul will be harnessed to serve the interests of, and gladly acquiesce to, the younger” G-dly soul.
From the book Light from the Future: Parshas Toldos by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.
