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Our sages posed the question why Noah was chosen to save the human race and not Adam after his son Cain killed Abel. An interesting answer came from Rabbi Yisroel Meir Lau, a survivor of the Buchenwald concentration camp. He believed that Noah was more fit because unlike Adam, Noah had a mother. Someone who knew maternal nurturing and the divine connection that mothers create, could, in turn, care about the human race by modeling the same.

Our tradition lifts up the role of the mother many times throughout our scripture. In Proverbs 1:8 we are told to “not forsake the Torah of your mother,” suggesting that in addition to the written Torah, our oral tradition which acts as a guide, is represented by the role that mothers play as guides in our lives.

Some of us are mothers, all of us had mothers or grandmothers. Some are/were great, some lacking. Some we aspire to be like, some of us, while not raising our own children have become cherished aunts or mentors that have had enduring impacts on children of all ages. As we approach Mother’s Day, we can also reflect on the incredible matriarchs of our people - Sarah, the birthmother of all Judaism, Rebecca, the savvy woman who steered Judaism, Leah the devoted woman who propelled Judaism, and Rachel, the patient woman who nurtured Judaism. We all have a little bit of each of them in us and can give thanks for the contributions they made to us as a people and as individuals.

I, myself, had both an adoptive mother and a biological one, each of whom played different roles in my life and has formed me in one way or another the kind of mother I want to be. I also happen to be married to Rebecca, an incredible and devoted mother to our children. In addition, I find myself regularly inspired by the many mothers and grandmothers of our congregation -  watching them lead their families, beautifully, creatively, and with selfless dedication.

While Sunday is indeed just a Hallmark holiday celebrating mothers, I know it is welcomed by some and fraught for others. Whether or not you buy or receive a card, I hope you have an opportunity to remember a great mother, show appreciation for one or be appreciated yourself.

Shabbat Shalom,

Beth