Women in the Bible

Rachel

Genesis 29-31; 33; 35:16-21, 24-25; 46:19, 22, 25; 48:7; Ruth 4:11; 1 Samuel 10:2; Jeremiah 31:11-21; Matthew 2:18

• Genesis 29: 16-18 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was graceful and beautiful. Jacob loved Rachel, so he said [to Laban], “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”

• Ruth 4:11 Then all the people who were at the gate, along with the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you produce children in Ephrathah and bestow a name in Bethlehem;

• Matthew 2:18 A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.

List of Reading & Resources:

Articles

• “Leah’s Improbably Optimism” by Annie Norman-Schiff

• “The twinned relationship of Leah and Rachel” by Nechama Goldman Barash in The Jerusalem Post (November 30, 2020)

• “Rachel: Midrash and Aggadah” by Tamar Kadari in Jewish Women’s Archive

Books

• “Leah’s Prayers: A Feminist Reading” by Noam Zion

• “Rachel and Leah’s Shared Anger” by Wendy Zierler

• “Rachel” in the New World Encyclopedia (2019)

• “Rachel and Leah’s Shared Anger” by Wendy Zierler on My Jewish Learning, Reprinted from The Torah: A Women’s Commentary (2008)

Podcasts

• “Loved and Unloved Wives” podcast from Parsha in Progress