The Blogs: Like Rivkah, pregnancy was intensely existential for me | Ruthie Hollander

Ruthie Hollander writes a personal blog post for The Times of Israel, reflecting on her two difficult pregnancies and connecting them to the biblical matriarch Rivkah's experience. She discusses Rabbeinu Bachya's interpretation of a commandment in Devarim about all creatures being created with consent, and explores commentaries on Rivkah's question 'lama zeh anokhi' (why is this me). Hollander describes her own hyperthyroidism, anemia, and high-risk pregnancies, and how they made her feel closer to God and engaged in existential questioning.

Ruthie Hollander writes a personal blog post for The Times of Israel, reflecting on her two difficult pregnancies and connecting them to the biblical matriarch Rivkah's experience. She describes how her 4-year-old daughter says she chose her parents, rooted in Rabbeinu Bachya's interpretation of a commandment in Devarim about all creatures being created with their consent. Hollander discusses the mystery of childbirth in ancient times and how Jewish wisdom scrutinizes these topics. She focuses on the parasha where Rivkah becomes pregnant after years of infertility and asks 'lama zeh anokhi' (why is this me). Hollander relates to Rivkah's existential questioning, having experienced hyperthyroidism, anemia, and high-risk pregnancies herself. She writes that pregnancy made her feel closer to God and engaged in a state of Midrash — of questions without answers and communion with the divine.