Blaming

There is a strange Rashi in connection with the birth of Yosef. Rachel had desired a son very badly, and she felt like a dead person without a child. Finally, when she was blessed with a son, Rashi says that she is relieved for now she has someone to blame.

It seems that out great matriarch, Rachel, who did an incredible act of loyalty to her sister, to save her humiliation, would view a son as someone to blame.

Rabbi Twerski felt that this comment was said half in jest, and Rashi had a sense of humor. But he used this commentary as an opportunity to speak about blaming, in general.

He sees blaming as a very negative character trait. Blaming is counter productive. It holds us back from accomplishing and gives us an excuse not to achieve. In essence, those who choose to blame are doing this in order to resist change. It is much easier to blame others rather than look at ourselves, and do what is necessary to make improvements in our character and our overall functioning in this world.

Perhaps when we realize how harmful blaming is to us, we will stop doing it, and focus on what is really important in this world.