2085 – Rivkah was born in Padan Aram
Although the meaning of her name is not explained in the Written Torah, the Mishnah in tractate Eruvin uses the word revakos, the plural of rivkah, to describe “teams of cattle.”
We all have two distinct souls and consciousness animating our bodies: A G-dly soul and an “animal soul.” The G-dly soul is defined by the selfless quest to serve the Almighty. The animal soul is driven by self-centeredness. The mission of the G-dly soul is to channel and focus the animal soul’s emotions toward its—the G-dly soul’s—interest, the service of G-d. When this is achieved, these formerly independent animalistic emotions can now unite, forming a harmony, or in the words of the Mishnah, “a team of cattle.”
This ability, writes Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, founder of Chabad Chassidism, is the gift bequeathed by Matriarch Rivkah to her offspring—every child of the Jewish nation.
2088 – Rivkah was three years old when Eliezer came to her town
"גמלתהו טוב ולא רע" She trusts in him with goodness
When Eliezer saw the extent to which Rivkah excelled in the midah of chesed, he hinted to her that chesed is but one of the three pillars on which the world stands, and that there are two more: Avodah and Torah. So he gave her the nose-ring, signifying the half-shekel, with which they would purchase the korbanos (the pillar of Avodah), and the bracelets, signifying the two Luchos containing the Ten Commandments (the pillar of Torah). Avrohom had passed the bracelets to Eliezer as a siman that the bracelets would conform to the arms of the person fitting to be the wife of Yitzchak, and would not fit anyone not fitting to be the wife of Yitzchak.
2088 – Rivkah goes with Eliezer to marry Yitzchak
Rivkah fulfills the spirit of Sarah, and the three blessings continue: the cloud joined the tent; the dough was uniquely prepared and the Shabbos candles were lite.
2108 – Rivkah gives birth to twins: Esav and Yaacov
2171 – Rivkah directs Yaacov to receive the blessings of Yitzchak
2207 – Rivkah at the age of 122 dies
When Rivkah died they asked who shall go out before her. Avraham had died, Yitzchak is sitting blind at home and Yaakov has gone to Padan Aram, shall Eisav the wicked go out and people will curse Rivkah. What did they do [the residents]? They took her coffin at night. Since they took her coffin at night, the text hides her death (only alludes to it with the death of Devorah her nurse). She was buried in Cave of Machpelah in Hebron as one of the four couples.
Although she grew up in Padan Aram, amongst pagans, she remained righteous and pure. Our sages applied to her the verse (Song of Songs 2:2): “As a rose among the thorns, so is my beloved among the daughters.” From Rivkah we inherited the ability to thrive despite adversity. Rivkah teaches us that we can all overcome our negative surroundings and background and attain great heights despite them. Moreover, it was due to Rivkah’s heightened ability to identify and sense evil and negativity that she was able to perceive the true nature of her two sons, Yaacov and Esav. It was this perception, which she acquired specifically because of her youth, which enabled her to plot out the plan to exchange the recipient of Isaac’s blessings and thus change the course of history.
