וַיִּשַּׁ֥ק יַעֲקֹ֖ב לְרָחֵ֑ל וַיִּשָּׂ֥א אֶת־קֹל֖וֹ וַיֵּֽבְךְּ׃
At hinalikan ni Jacob si Raquel, at itinaas niya ang kanyang tinig at umiyak.
Ruth Rabbah
“Orpa kissed her mother-in-law.” All kisses are of licentiousness, except for three: A kiss of greatness, a kiss of absence, and a kiss of parting. A kiss of greatness, as it is written: “Samuel took a flask of oil, and poured it on his head, and kissed him” (I Samuel 10:1). Of absence, as it is written: “He met him at the mountain of God at Ḥorev [and he kissed him]” (Exodus 4:27). Of parting, as it is stated: “Orpa kissed her mother-in-law.” Rabbi Tanḥuma said: Even a kiss of closeness, as it is stated: “Jacob kissed Rachel” (Genesis 29:11). Why? It is because she was his relative.
“She said: Behold, your sister-in-law has returned to her people, and to her god; return after your sister-in-law” (Ruth 1:15).
“She said: Behold, your sister-in-law has returned [to her people, and to her god]…” – once she returned to her people she returned to her god.
“She said: Behold, your sister-in-law has returned to her people, and to her god; return after your sister-in-law” (Ruth 1:15).
“She said: Behold, your sister-in-law has returned [to her people, and to her god]…” – once she returned to her people she returned to her god.
Shemot Rabbah
“The Lord said to Aaron: Go toward Moses to the wilderness. He went, and he met him at the mountain of God and he kissed him” (Exodus 4:27).
“The Lord said to Aaron: Go toward Moses to the wilderness” – that is what is written: “If only you were as my brother [who nursed from the breasts of my mother; I would find you outside, I would kiss you]” (Song of Songs 8:1). Regarding which brother is the verse speaking? If you say it is regarding Cain, but is it not written: “Cain rose against his brother Abel and killed him”? If you say it is like Ishmael to Isaac, did we not learn: Ishmael hates Isaac? If you say it is like Esau to Jacob, is it not written: “Esau hated Jacob” (Genesis 27:41)? If you say it is like Joseph’s brothers, but is it not written: “They hated him” (Genesis 37:4), and it is written: “His brothers envied him” (Genesis 37:11). Rather, it is like Joseph to Benjamin, “who nursed from the breasts of my mother” (Song of Songs 8:1),1Joseph and Benjamin were from the same mother, Rachel, whereas their other brothers were not sons of Rachel. [and] like Moses to Aaron, as it is stated: “He went, and he met him at the mountain of God and he kissed him.”
Our Rabbis, of blessed memory, said: All kisses are indecent except for three: The kiss of greatness, the kiss of separation, and the kiss of reunion. The kiss of greatness, as it is stated: “Samuel took the vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him” (I Samuel 10:1); the kiss of separation: “Orpa kissed her mother-in-law” (Ruth 1:14); the kiss of reunion, as it is stated: “He went, and he met him at the mountain of God and he kissed him.”
Some say: Even a kiss of closeness is not disgraceful, as it is stated: “Jacob kissed Rachel” (Genesis 29:11), who was his relative. Rabbi Pinḥas said: There was an incident involving a brother and a sister, one of whom was in Gush Ḥalav and one of whom was in Beit Maron. The house in Gush Ḥalav caught fire. His sister came from Beit Maron and fell upon him and was hugging him and kissing him. She said: ‘I am not accustomed to come to you [and to kiss you], but I was afraid, as you are my brother and were in distress, and you emerged from it.’
“I would find you outside, I would kiss you” (Song of Songs 8:1) – where outside? It is in the wilderness, where the brothers, Moses and Aaron, kissed each other.
“The Lord said to Aaron: Go toward Moses to the wilderness” – that is what is written: “If only you were as my brother [who nursed from the breasts of my mother; I would find you outside, I would kiss you]” (Song of Songs 8:1). Regarding which brother is the verse speaking? If you say it is regarding Cain, but is it not written: “Cain rose against his brother Abel and killed him”? If you say it is like Ishmael to Isaac, did we not learn: Ishmael hates Isaac? If you say it is like Esau to Jacob, is it not written: “Esau hated Jacob” (Genesis 27:41)? If you say it is like Joseph’s brothers, but is it not written: “They hated him” (Genesis 37:4), and it is written: “His brothers envied him” (Genesis 37:11). Rather, it is like Joseph to Benjamin, “who nursed from the breasts of my mother” (Song of Songs 8:1),1Joseph and Benjamin were from the same mother, Rachel, whereas their other brothers were not sons of Rachel. [and] like Moses to Aaron, as it is stated: “He went, and he met him at the mountain of God and he kissed him.”
Our Rabbis, of blessed memory, said: All kisses are indecent except for three: The kiss of greatness, the kiss of separation, and the kiss of reunion. The kiss of greatness, as it is stated: “Samuel took the vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him” (I Samuel 10:1); the kiss of separation: “Orpa kissed her mother-in-law” (Ruth 1:14); the kiss of reunion, as it is stated: “He went, and he met him at the mountain of God and he kissed him.”
Some say: Even a kiss of closeness is not disgraceful, as it is stated: “Jacob kissed Rachel” (Genesis 29:11), who was his relative. Rabbi Pinḥas said: There was an incident involving a brother and a sister, one of whom was in Gush Ḥalav and one of whom was in Beit Maron. The house in Gush Ḥalav caught fire. His sister came from Beit Maron and fell upon him and was hugging him and kissing him. She said: ‘I am not accustomed to come to you [and to kiss you], but I was afraid, as you are my brother and were in distress, and you emerged from it.’
“I would find you outside, I would kiss you” (Song of Songs 8:1) – where outside? It is in the wilderness, where the brothers, Moses and Aaron, kissed each other.
Bereshit Rabbah
“It was when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the flock of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob approached, rolled the stone from the mouth of the well, and watered the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother” (Genesis 29:10).
“It was when Jacob saw…Jacob approached, rolled the stone” – like one who is removing a stopper from the mouth of a jug.
“Jacob kissed Rachel, and raised his voice, and wept” (Genesis 29:11).
“Jacob kissed Rachel” – every kiss is for promiscuity except for three: A kiss of greatness; a kiss of reunion; a kiss of parting. A kiss of greatness – “Samuel took the flask of oil, poured onto his head, and kissed him” (I Samuel 10:1). A kiss of reunion – “He went and he met him at the mountain of God and he kissed him” (Exodus 4:27). A kiss of parting – “Orpa kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her” (Ruth 1:14). Rabbi Tanḥuma said: A kiss of kinship as well, as it is stated: “Jacob kissed Rachel,” who was his relative.
“And raised his voice, and wept” – why did he weep? He said: ‘Eliezer, when he went to bring Rebecca, what is written in his regard? “The servant took ten camels from the camels of his master…” (Genesis 24:10), but I do not have even one nose-ring or one bracelet.’
Another matter, why did he weep? It is because he saw that she would not enter into the grave with him. That is what she [Rachel] said to her [Leah]: “That is why he will lie with you tonight” (Genesis 30:15) – he will lie with you, and he will not lie with me.26Lie, in the sense of burial.
Another matter, why did he weep? It is because he saw people whispering to one another because he kissed her, [saying]: ‘What, has this one come to introduce a matter of lewdness in our midst?’ This is because from the time that the world was stricken in the generation of the Flood, the nations of the world stood and distanced themselves from lewdness. That is what is said: The people of the East are distanced from lewdness.
“It was when Jacob saw…Jacob approached, rolled the stone” – like one who is removing a stopper from the mouth of a jug.
“Jacob kissed Rachel, and raised his voice, and wept” (Genesis 29:11).
“Jacob kissed Rachel” – every kiss is for promiscuity except for three: A kiss of greatness; a kiss of reunion; a kiss of parting. A kiss of greatness – “Samuel took the flask of oil, poured onto his head, and kissed him” (I Samuel 10:1). A kiss of reunion – “He went and he met him at the mountain of God and he kissed him” (Exodus 4:27). A kiss of parting – “Orpa kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her” (Ruth 1:14). Rabbi Tanḥuma said: A kiss of kinship as well, as it is stated: “Jacob kissed Rachel,” who was his relative.
“And raised his voice, and wept” – why did he weep? He said: ‘Eliezer, when he went to bring Rebecca, what is written in his regard? “The servant took ten camels from the camels of his master…” (Genesis 24:10), but I do not have even one nose-ring or one bracelet.’
Another matter, why did he weep? It is because he saw that she would not enter into the grave with him. That is what she [Rachel] said to her [Leah]: “That is why he will lie with you tonight” (Genesis 30:15) – he will lie with you, and he will not lie with me.26Lie, in the sense of burial.
Another matter, why did he weep? It is because he saw people whispering to one another because he kissed her, [saying]: ‘What, has this one come to introduce a matter of lewdness in our midst?’ This is because from the time that the world was stricken in the generation of the Flood, the nations of the world stood and distanced themselves from lewdness. That is what is said: The people of the East are distanced from lewdness.