In this week's Parsha we read about Yaakov's arrival to the house of Lavan. Yaakov marries Leah and Rachel the daughters of Lavan. Leah is blessed with children while Rachel remains barren. Rachel turns to her husband Yaakov and ask him (to pray for her) to have children. Yaakov responds by saying that he is not in the place of G-d to "give her" children. The Ramban explains that Rachel realized that her salvation would only come through her own prayers directly to G-d and she couldn't rely on anyone else to help or bring her salvation. When Rachel turned to G-d to pray she was answered and finally conceived the righteous Yosef. It was when Rachel came to this realization and didn't rely even on the prayers of her husband that she was saved.

In life we always are looking for our "salvation" to come from some doctor, boss, business deal or the numerous other people and causes that we may mistakenly put our faith in. Of course we need to put in our effort to "save" and help ourselves, but it must remain clear at all times that our salvation is dependent on the realization that everything depends on G-d.

Shabbat Shalom,

Heath