By Rabbi Avraham Moeinzadeh:
In this week’s parasha we observe two sisters with two different outlooks on their lives. Although both of them are trying their best to marry a tzadik, the goal that each one wants to achieve differs from the other sister. The goal of Leah to marry Yaakov is simply to be connected to a tzadik like Yaakov. Rachel’s intention however seems to be to mother children of a tzadik.
This can be seen through their responses to different incidents that happened in their lives. Leah names all of her children based on her husband’s relationship towards her, but the names that Rachel picks indicate her desire to have more children. Leah is ready to trade the dudaeim ( which is a segulah for childbearing) with the privilege of having her husband spend more time with her, but Rachel is ready to trade him for the dudaeim. Interestingly, each one merits to achieve her own goal. Leah gets to live longer with Yaakov and is even buried next to him. Rachel merits that all the Jews be called her children and she is the mother who always dovens for her children.
When there is a real will, Hashem will help a person to achieve it.
( Harav Chaim Cosman, Yeshivat Ner Israel)
Shabbat Shalom.