Take It for Me
Rebbe Elimelech reads Rivkah as the Shechinah, sending Yaakov to receive the blessings of this world for the sake of Heaven.
The Noam Elimelech brings from the Zohar that the Shechinah is called Rivkah, and the people of Israel are called Yaakov. Yitzchak meant to give the blessings of this world to Eisav, but the Shechinah, a mother who suffers in all her children's troubles, could not bear to see them poor. So she sent Yaakov for the blessings. Yaakov was afraid that wealth and comfort would coarsen him and pull him away from serving Hashem, so that the blessing would turn into a curse. His mother answered: the curse is upon me, it is my task to guard you from it. Only listen to me, and go take them for me. Receive this world's blessings too, Rebbe Elimelech explains, but let them be for me, for the service of Hashem's great Name: eat, drink and live for the sake of Heaven, raising the holy sparks within them.
Source: Noam Elimelech, Bereishis, Toldos (on Bereishis 27:6–14)
Choose one meal this week to eat with Rivkah's words in mind: take it for Me. Before you begin, think for a moment that you are eating to have strength to serve Hashem, to learn, to daven, to be patient with your family. Say the brachah slowly and mean it. During the meal, share one word of Torah or one kind word with whoever is with you. The food is the same food, but the meal becomes a gift you receive for Heaven.