Timna

The end of פרשת וישלח gives us the lineage of עשו’s family. If one looks closely at the various families, we see how incest was rampant and it was far from family purity.

We were also told that Timna was the concubine of Eisav’s son, Eliphaz. She was also the mother of Amalek, the archenemy of the Jewish people.

The Talmud in Sanhedrin tells us that this same Timna, was rejected for conversion by Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yakov. This was difficult to understand how all three felt that she was not worthy of becoming part of the Jewish people.

It is assumed that they all had a legitimate reason to reject her, but they were still reprimanded for their lack of compassion. The proof that their decision was wrong was evidenced by the ultimate birth of Amalek.

Rabbi Twerski suggested that perhaps things could have turned out differently had there been more sensitivity and compassion. If Timna was given more kindness in the way that they did not accept her, it may have been better.

In life, we are all faced with the problem of having to reject someone. It might apply to Shidduchim, or in an employer-employee situation. We can’t hire everyone, but we should still be gentle in our rejection of that individual. This lesson can be learned from Timna, the mother of Amalek.