רחל

Rachel is one of the most central and significant biblical names in Jewish culture, carrying with it a rich heritage of love, devotion, and motherhood. The name first appears in the Book of Genesis when Jacob meets Rachel by the well in Haran and immediately falls in love with her. Rachel was the younger and more beautiful daughter of Laban the Aramean, described in the Torah as "beautiful of form and beautiful of appearance." Jacob agreed to work seven years to win her hand, and these years "seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her" - an expression that became the symbol of perfect romantic love in Jewish tradition. The name Rachel derives from the root R-Ch-L, and its literal meaning is "ewe" or "young sheep," symbolizing gentleness, innocence, and purity. Rachel earned the distinction of being one of the four matriarchs of the Jewish people, alongside Sarah, Rebecca, and Leah. Although she did not give birth to most of the tribes of Israel, her position in Jewish tradition is unique and central. She is the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, and her character symbolizes the suffering mother who prays for her children. Her life story is accompanied by pain and hope - the long years of childlessness, the jealousy of her sister Leah who bore many sons, and finally the long-awaited birth of Joseph. When her prayer was finally answered, she named her son "Joseph" - "May the Lord add to me another son," expressing her hope for more children. However, her death while giving birth to her second son, Benjamin, on the road to Bethlehem, is one of the most moving and tragic moments in the Bible. Her tomb, "Rachel's Tomb," has become a holy site and a symbol of a mother praying for her children throughout the generations. In Jewish tradition, Rachel the Matriarch holds a special place as "the mother who weeps for her children." The prophet Jeremiah describes her weeping for her children going into exile, and God promises her that they will return to their borders. This imagery transformed Rachel into the symbol of the eternal mother of the Jewish people, one who never stops praying and caring for her children in every situation. The name Rachel carries values of deep love, devotion, patience, and faith. Throughout the generations, many Jewish women have been named after her, continuing the legacy of motherhood and kindness that she represented. The name remains popular to this day, both among traditional and secular families, and is considered one of the classic and timeless names in Jewish culture. Rachel represents the ideal of the Jewish woman - beautiful, modest, loving, and devoted to her family and her people.

רָחֵל

Rachel | Rachael | Raquel | Rahel

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Genesis 29:10 - And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother

In Kabbalah, Rachel represents the attribute of Malchut (Shekhinah, the Divine Presence), and is considered a symbol of the divine presence in the lower world. She symbolizes the connection between the spiritual and the material, between heaven and earth. Rachel is the mother who protects the people of Israel throughout all generations, and her prayers are considered to have special power before the Throne of Glory. In Jewish mysticism, Rachel is identified with kindness, pure love, and infinite devotion.

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Rachel the Poetess (Rachel Bluwstein) - famous Hebrew poet | Rachel Yanait Ben-Zvi - wife of Israel's second president | Rachel Weisz - British-American actress | Rachel McAdams - Canadian actress | Rachel Green - iconic character from TV series Friends

רחלי | מיכל | לאה | שרה | רבקה | דינה

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