B"H
Wednesday, Cheshvan 22, 5777 / November 23, 2016
In this week’s Parsha, Chayei Sarah, the Torah tells how Abraham sent his faithful servant Eliezer on a mission to find a wife for his son, Yitzchak (Isaac).
Here is the Torah account of the events: "And Abraham was old, advanced in days; and G-d blessed Abraham with everything. Abraham said to his servant [Eliezer], to my country and birthplace you shall go and take a wife for my son for Yitzchak. And the servant took ten camels of his master and all the goods of his master and he went to Aram NaHarayim. He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water in the evening at the time when women go out to draw water."
At the well, Eliezer prays that G-d, "show kindness to my master Abraham." Eliezer devises the following test. He will ask the girls who come to the well for a drink and whoever not only offers him water, but also for his camels, she will be the one to marry Yitzchak. Eliezer saw Rivkah coming to the well. As she filled up her pitcher, Eliezer said, "Give me a little water from your pitcher." Rivkah gave him to drink and then said, "Also for your camels I will draw until they have finished to drink." Eliezer knew that Rivkah was the perfect match for Yitzchak.
Eliezer showers her with presents. The Torah describes in great detail, the conversation between Eliezer and Rivkah's family. They finally agree to send Rivkah with him.
When Rivkah met Yitzchak, "She took the veil and covered herself. The Torah says, “And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he took Rivkah and she became his wife; and he loved her. And Isaac was comforted for his mother".
Q.We find later in the Torah that Yitzchak sent his son Yaakov to his uncle Lavan to find a wife. Why didn’t Abraham send Yitzchak with Eliezer, so that Yitzchak can make the choice for himself?
A.When Abraham bound Yitzchak upon the altar on Mount Moriah with the intention of bringing him as a sacrifice, it gave Yitzchak a special status of holiness. As a result he was prohibited to go out of the Holy Land. Yitzchak was the only patriarch who never left the Holy Land.
Q. What did Yitzchak, Yaakov and Moshe have in common?
A. Their matches were made at a well. Eliezer met Rivkah, who later became Yitzchak’s wife, at the well. Yaakov met his wife, Rachel, at the well. Moshe also met his wife, Tziporah, at a well.
Q. The Torah uses the expression, "And Abraham was old, advanced in days.” Why not in years?
A.Rabbi Shalom Dovber of Lubavitch said, “A [long] winter night and a summer day is like a year!” One has to make every day count. One can accomplish so much in the course of a day. The Torah tells us that Abraham was able to account, not only for his years, but also for each day of his life.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY