Nature and Nurture. Both or Neither - Parshat Toledot

Just a few weeks ago we spoke about the influence of human nature on our behavior in the article on Parshat Noach.  This week, we are confronted with the opposite side of the long-lived discussion of the influence of nature versus nurture. Is it our basic human, genetic makeup which influences our behavior and makes us behave more out of instinct or are we more products of our environment and doomed to behave as our community does? Or is it a mix? Or is it possible that it is neither?

This week's parsha presents us with this question. Rivka, the new wife of Isaac, is reintroduced in Parshat Toledot. We are told that she is the daughter of Betuel and from the from the town of Padan Aram.1 Rashi, the great commentator and possibly the most under-rated Jewish philosopher, points out that this additional intro is not necessary as we already know this from previous stories in the Torah.2 Rashi explains that we remind the readers of her lineage to show that even though she grew up in a family with evil people and in a community of evil people, she was able to overcome all of that and reach towards the individual greatness that she attained.

How empowering! How refreshing! We are not tied to or bound by our nurture. Do they effect us? Yes. Are they predictors of our behavior? If we let them be. We can also choose to make independent decisions.

Our ability to make independent decisions is part of what sets us apart as human beings.3 When we exercise that ability responsibly, we are acting in a most human way. Only then we can tap into our full abilities and give to life our maximum.

 Click here to see another logoParsha article on this parsha

Notes

  1. Bereishit 25:20
  2. Ibid. 22:23; 24:10
  3. This is one of the cornerstones of logotherapy, a system of psychology founded by Dr Viktor Frankl. Making responsible decisions leads us on a path towards living a meaningful life.

Have A Great Shabbat!laughing

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