Can There Be Holiness (and a Reason for Thankfulness) in the Midst of Suffering?

It's so moving in this week's parasha (Torah portion) Toledot, when Rebecca, in the midst of her pregnancy, cries out to God. We read in Torah: Im ken lama zeh anokhi - (Gen. 25:22-23). We ask, is she complaining? Is she just in pain? Does she wonder if God is punishing her? My teacher Rabbi Jonathan Slater of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality reminds us that Rebecca, as our Sages and teachers hold, is a , a fully righteous woman. It would be unbecoming for her to complain about her lot, to exhibit any sort of doubt of God’s righteous judgment and perfect providence. Her outburst of pain and exasperation does not befit her character. So what is happening here? I ASK: H Our ancient teacher, Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berdichev (1740-1810)illuminates the contradictory emotions welling up inside of a suffering Rebecca - she simultaneously wonders if she is being punished for her sinfulness by God (the Ar"i says that righteous women suffer no pain in childbirth - yeah, right!). Rabbi Jonathan Slater interprets Kedushat Levi’s insights: What do you think?