Hannah

Rabbi Melanie Aron

Rosh HaShanah - Thursday, September 13, 2007

Introduction to the Reading of the Haftarah

Given where I am in my life these days, its probably not surprising that I read the story of Hannah this year, not only as a reflection of the pain of infertility, but also with an eye to a second kind of barrenness, the barrenness of an empty nest when children leave home. With regards to the first concern- infertility, this is a personal experience for many within our community as some estimate that one in six couples experience problems with fertility. Consider Hannah’s relationship with her husband Elkanah. Elkanah clearly loved Hannah and the Haftarah tells us that he expressed his love by giving her extra gifts at the time of the annual sacrifice. Elkanah was sympathetic to Hannah’s sadness at her barrenness, but he didn’t quite get it.” Am I not better to you than ten sons,” he asks. In part this was probably because of an asymmetry in their relationship. Through his wife Peninah, Elkanah already had children, sons and daughters, so his situation is different from Hannah.

But even without children from another relationship, it sometimes happens that two people who love each other experience infertility differently- what aches in them may be different, how they respond to the sadness may be different, and what they see as a solution to the creation of family for themselves may be different. Love alone is no guarantee of understanding and one has the sense that Elkanah and Hannah are on the same page, only at the end of the story, after Samuel is born. The second striking thing for me in this text is the image of Hannah bringing this long awaited longed for child, up to the sanctuary at Shiloh. Just as Abraham made a feast after Isaac was weaned, so is there a feast here after Samuel was weaned, but this time it wasn’t a home celebration, with family and friends, but a sacrifice of dedication at the altar in Shiloh where Samuel would serve. This would be more than we can bear, this image of Hannah leaving her son behind, as she returns home without him, so the book of Samuel hints at a continuing relationship.

Later in the book of Samuel we are told that Hannah sews a garment for Samuel and brings it up with her, implying that this was something she did not once, but every year. The Midrash goes further and suggests that it was Samuel’s ongoing contact with his mother and the education she provided, that set Samuel apart from Eli’s sons, callous young men and ne’er do wells who take advantage of their position. For empty nesters, the text reminds us that what we do for and with our children, even after they leave the home has significance. The text also, wisely points us back towards our spouses. Recently I officiated at the funeral service of a man who was 104 years old. His children lived in his home, 20 perhaps 25 years, but he and his wife lived together companionably for 72 years. Our Haftarah is the story of Hannah and Samuel, but behind the scenes there is also the story of Hannah and Elkannah.