Many of you long-time readers know that I try to acquire lessons from the Tora (the Bible) that I can use in everyday life- and in my business situations. Well, in my religion, we were cycling through the portion that deals with Yaakov (Jacob), Lavan (Laban), and the 20+ years of their “association”.

And, a few weeks ago (again- my posts are queued for weeks), our weekly reading was Vayishlach (you call it Genesis 32:4 to 36:43). It contains a most mysterious statement:  “Dvora, the nanny of Rivka [Rebekka], died… and she was buried there.”   (Yaakov and his family are returning to the land of Israel, now that the association with Lavan is ending.)

Really?  We never heard more than a few words about this woman before. (And, that was when Eliezer brought Rivka as a wife for Yitzchak (Isaac) years prior in Breishit (Genesis) 24:59: “They sent Rivka and her nanny”.)  Now, we find that she was returning with Yaakov and his family to Israel???  When and how and why did Dvora ever leave Israel?   We only heard that Yaakov escaped from his father’s house to Lavan- and was not accompanied by anyone about whom we were told.

So, we (that’s the Rabbis) determined that Dvora was a mentor to Rivka.  She helped raised Rivka to be worthy of being the wife of Yitzchak and the daughter-in-law of Avraham Avinu (Abraham).  Dvora was instrumental to Rivka, insuring that as opposed to all her neighbors and friends, she did not fall into the practice of idolatry, as was the normal belief of that period and place, and lived a life of morality.

It’s the parents and the nanny that have the most influence on the future life of a child.  After all, if a parent gives money to charity and/or feeds the poor- it would not be unusual for the child’s peers to mock the child (especially back then)- saying that his/her parents were suckers, giving away their wealth and not taking care of their own family.  And, the child would come running home- to the nanny, since the parents were off doing their work.  And, the child would not necessarily want to concern his/her own parents about this situation.  It would be the nanny who would reinforce the rule of morality, teaching the child her own little methods of coping.

As the coach and nanny, Dvora served as a catalyst for growth and as a sounding board.
The Tora seems to suggest that once Rivka was well settled and an adult, she sent Dvora back to her birthplace to help raise the next generation of great women in her family.  And, Dvora served as mentor for Rachel, Lea, Bilha, and Zilpa, who were situated in Rivka’s ancestral home.  Which is also why Rivka sent Yaakov packing to her ancestral home- to insure that Yaakov would find one well-trained by the esteemed nanny, Dvora.  And, when Yaakov left, he brought the nanny back with his household to continue her duties.

So, it seems that Dvora was mentor for five of the six women that created the Jewish people.  Only Sara was not among her mentees.

And, that’s why the Tora mentions the death of Dvora and clearly states it was a place of weeping.

From this we learn that it’s our job to serve as mentors for others- and to recognize the efforts of those who most would dismiss as just the “hired help”.

I recently honored those folks who served as my mentors and guides. Here are links, in case you missed the series.

Sol Kuchlik- quiz and tell

Sue Katzman- My ID partner

Cary Rollner- A big brother of sorts

Arthur Lipper- The 3^rd is the charm!

Samuel Ruben- My college benefactor

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