B"H

Tuesday, Mar-Cheshvan 21, 5780 / November 19, 2019

After telling us about Sarah’s passing and her burial, Parshat Chayei Sarah describes how Abraham went about finding a wife for his son, Yitzchak (Isaac). The Torah describes in great detail how Abraham sent his trusted servant, Eliezer, to find a wife for Yitzchak. Abraham tells him, “Go to my country and to my family and take a wife for my son Yitzchak."

Eliezer took 10 camels loaded with goods and went to Abraham's birth-place, Aram-Naharaim.  Before entering the city he stopped at a well, "when the women go out to draw water."

Eliezer devised a test to determine which girl would be suitable for Yitzchak and prayed to G-d for success.  "I will stand by the well, let it come to pass that the girl to whom I say, 'Lower your pitcher so that I may drink' and she will answer, 'Drink and I will give your camels to drink too,' she will be the one You have chosen for Yitzchak."

The Torah continues: "Before he finished praying, Rivkah came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. And Eliezer ran to meet her and said, 'Give me a little water to drink from your pitcher.'  She replied, 'Drink, my master,” She let down her pitcher and gave him to drink. Then she said, “Also for your camels I will draw until they have finished drinking."

After obtaining her family's permission, he took Rivkah back with him to Yitzchak.  The Torah tells us that, "Yitzchak brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and she became his wife; and he loved her and Yitzchak was comforted for his mother."

According to tradition, matches are made in heaven. Yet, although everything is by Divine Providence, we have to do our part, as the saying goes, "G-d helps those who help themselves."

Q.   Why did Eliezer devise such a test to know whom to choose as a wife for Yitzchak?

A.   Abraham and Sarah stood out for their kindness to people.  Their home was always open to everyone. Eliezer knew that the most important quality Yitzchak would be looking for in a wife would be generosity and kindness. He wanted to make sure that the girl he would choose to marry Yitzchak will be extremely generous and he saw that when she offered him more than he asked her.

This story teaches us what is the true foundation for a successful marriage and building a Jewish home. He knew that if she was kind and generous, the rest would fall into place.

Our sages say, "The world stands on three foundations: The study of Torah; The service of G-d and Acts of kindness."  So too, the foundation of a Jew's personal world (i.e. the home) must be built upon the above three foundations; Torah, the service of G-d, generosity and kindness.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY