Rosh Hashanah 5769/2008 - Jewish Infertility

The Son She Gave AwayBy: Chana Silberstein“And Elkana dwelt in the hills of Ephraim with his wife, Chana,and she was childless.”“Marry another woman that you may have children,” she said.“And when Hashem sees my pain, perhaps I too, will be given achild.”So Elkana took a second wife, Penina. And she bore manychildren, but Chana had none.With time, Chana might have resigned herself to her fate andfound solace in her loving husband and her service of Hashem.But Penina knew of the longing that burned deep within Chanaand resolved that her longing not be extinguished. And so, therewas no chance of Chana making peace with her childlessness, forPenina tormented her endlessly.In the morning, Penina rose early to prepare her children to gostudy.“Chana,” she mocked, “Why are you not up yet? Don’t you haveto wash and dress your children?”At noon, Penina stood at the door, awaiting her children’s return.“Chana, aren’t you going to come, too, to welcome your childrenhome?”At dinner, when Elkana served the main course, Penina onceagain called attention to her young. “This one has not eaten yet;my daughter is still hungry; my son is waiting for his portion.”There was not a day that Chana was not confronted with herbarrenness. She sat silently and withdrawn at the table, tearsShaarei Tikvah Issue 57/ Rosh Hashana 200825rosh hashana_magazine2.indd 2521/09/2008 7:00:48 PM