B"H
Tuesday, Mar-Cheshvan 21, 5769 / November 22, 2008
Our sages say, "Forty days before the formation of a child, it is announced in heaven that the daughter of this one will marry this one." Although marriages are made in heaven, it is up to us to do whatever we can to find that individual and pray to G-d that He help us in finding our soul mate.
The first mention in the Torah of a marriage which came about through a matchmaker, is in this week's Parsha, Chayei Sarah.
The Torah describes, in great detail, how Abraham sent his trusted servant, Eliezer, to find a wife for his son, Yitzchak. Abraham instructs Eliezer to travel to his birth place where his family lives, and bring back a wife for Yitzchak. Abraham insisted that it be only a family member.
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, “at the time, 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, 'Let down 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 the servant ran to meet her and said, 'Give me a little water to drink from your pitcher.' And she said, 'Drink, my lord', and she hastened and let down her pitcher upon her hand and gave him to drink. Then she said, 'Also for your camels I will draw until they have finished drinking.'"
Eliezer obtained her family's permission to take Rivkah back with him to Yitzchak. The Torah tells us that, "Yitzchak brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and he took Rivkah and she became his wife; and he loved her and Yitzchak was comforted for his mother."
This detailed story of how Eliezer chose a wife for Yitzchak teaches us the foundation for a successful marriage and building a Jewish home. Abraham wasn’t looking for a girl from a wealthy family. His greatest concern was that Yitzchak's wife should be kind and generous. If she had these qualities, the rest would fall into place.
This story happened over 3500 years ago, but the lesson is valid today. The key to a successful marriage is when it is built on a foundation of kindness and selflessness rather than selfishness.
Our sages say, "The world stands upon three things; the study of Torah; service of G-d (Avodah); and acts of kindness (Gemilat Chasadim)." 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 and generosity and kindness.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Wednesday, Cheshvan 15, 5777 / November 16, 2016
This week’s Parsha, Vayeira, begins with the two important mitzvot of Hachnasat Orchim - being hospitable to guests and the mitzvah of Bikur Cholim - visiting the sick.
The Parsha begins, "And G-d appeared to Abraham, while he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. And he [Abraham] lifted up his eyes and looked and there were three men standing before him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them."
Abraham invites them into his house and gives them water to wash their feet. He rushes to tell Sarah to prepare baked goods. He then "runs" himself to fetch three oxen so he can serve them a sumptuous meal. Abraham had many servants and he was 99 years old at the time. It was also the third day after his circumcision, yet, he himself attended to his guests.
The reason G-d appeared to Abraham was to perform the mitzvah of visiting the sick. In order that Abraham would not be bothered with guests, G-d made the day unbearably hot, to prevent people from traveling. But Abraham sat by the door of his tent, looking for wayfarers so he can perform the mitzvah of Hachnasat Orchim. G-d sent three angels in human form. When Abraham saw them, he asked G-d not to leave while he "ran" to invite the three guests into his home. The Torah then details how Abraham ran to make sure that his guests had everything they needed. From this we see, say our sages, "That performing the mitzvah of hospitality is greater than being in the Divine Presence!"
This story emphasizes the importance of the mitzvah of helping others. Abraham left G-d’s presence in order to help the three guests.
Before they became well known, the brothers Reb Zusia and Reb Elimelech, would hide their identity as tzadikim and great rabbis. Therefore, people mistook them for poor, uneducated people.
Whenever the brothers came to the city of Ludmir, the wealthy people didn't pay attention to them. So they stayed at the home of a poor man who took pity on them.
Many years later, Reb Zusia and Reb Elimelech became very famous. They traveled again to Ludmir; only this time, they came in a coach pulled by two horses. The richest man in town told the coachman, "Please, bring the honored rabbis to my home!" But when the carriage pulled up to his home, he was shocked to find that only the coachman had come to stay and not the rabbis!
When the rich man complained, Reb Zusia and Reb Elimelech responded, "We have come to Ludmir many times before. The only one to show us hospitality was the poor man who gave us food and lodging. We haven't changed since those days except that then we went by foot and now we travel in a coach. Knowing that you never invited us before, we figured that the reason you wanted us to stay in your home was because of the coachman and the horses. That's why we sent them to you, while we stayed in our regular place with the poor man!"
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Wednesday, Cheshvan 15, 5777 / November 16, 2016
This week’s Parsha, Vayeira, begins with the two important mitzvot of Hachnasat Orchim - being hospitable to guests and the mitzvah of Bikur Cholim - visiting the sick.
The Parsha begins, "And G-d appeared to Abraham, while he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. And he [Abraham] lifted up his eyes and looked and there were three men standing before him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them."
Abraham invites them into his house and gives them water to wash their feet. He rushes to tell Sarah to prepare baked goods. He then "runs" himself to fetch three oxen so he can serve them a sumptuous meal. Abraham had many servants and he was 99 years old at the time. It was also the third day after his circumcision, yet, he himself attended to his guests.
The reason G-d appeared to Abraham was to perform the mitzvah of visiting the sick. In order that Abraham would not be bothered with guests, G-d made the day unbearably hot, to prevent people from traveling. But Abraham sat by the door of his tent, looking for wayfarers so he can perform the mitzvah of Hachnasat Orchim. G-d sent three angels in human form. When Abraham saw them, he asked G-d not to leave while he "ran" to invite the three guests into his home. The Torah then details how Abraham ran to make sure that his guests had everything they needed. From this we see, say our sages, "That performing the mitzvah of hospitality is greater than being in the Divine Presence!"
This story emphasizes the importance of the mitzvah of helping others. Abraham left G-d’s presence in order to help the three guests.
Before they became well known, the brothers Reb Zusia and Reb Elimelech, would hide their identity as tzadikim and great rabbis. Therefore, people mistook them for poor, uneducated people.
Whenever the brothers came to the city of Ludmir, the wealthy people didn't pay attention to them. So they stayed at the home of a poor man who took pity on them.
Many years later, Reb Zusia and Reb Elimelech became very famous. They traveled again to Ludmir; only this time, they came in a coach pulled by two horses. The richest man in town told the coachman, "Please, bring the honored rabbis to my home!" But when the carriage pulled up to his home, he was shocked to find that only the coachman had come to stay and not the rabbis!
When the rich man complained, Reb Zusia and Reb Elimelech responded, "We have come to Ludmir many times before. The only one to show us hospitality was the poor man who gave us food and lodging. We haven't changed since those days except that then we went by foot and now we travel in a coach. Knowing that you never invited us before, we figured that the reason you wanted us to stay in your home was because of the coachman and the horses. That's why we sent them to you, while we stayed in our regular place with the poor man!"
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Wednesday, Cheshvan 15, 5777 / November 16, 2016
This week’s Parsha, Vayeira, begins with the two important mitzvot of Hachnasat Orchim - being hospitable to guests and the mitzvah of Bikur Cholim - visiting the sick.
The Parsha begins, "And G-d appeared to Abraham, while he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. And he [Abraham] lifted up his eyes and looked and there were three men standing before him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them."
Abraham invites them into his house and gives them water to wash their feet. He rushes to tell Sarah to prepare baked goods. He then "runs" himself to fetch three oxen so he can serve them a sumptuous meal. Abraham had many servants and he was 99 years old at the time. It was also the third day after his circumcision, yet, he himself attended to his guests.
The reason G-d appeared to Abraham was to perform the mitzvah of visiting the sick. In order that Abraham would not be bothered with guests, G-d made the day unbearably hot, to prevent people from traveling. But Abraham sat by the door of his tent, looking for wayfarers so he can perform the mitzvah of Hachnasat Orchim. G-d sent three angels in human form. When Abraham saw them, he asked G-d not to leave while he "ran" to invite the three guests into his home. The Torah then details how Abraham ran to make sure that his guests had everything they needed. From this we see, say our sages, "That performing the mitzvah of hospitality is greater than being in the Divine Presence!"
This story emphasizes the importance of the mitzvah of helping others. Abraham left G-d’s presence in order to help the three guests.
Before they became well known, the brothers Reb Zusia and Reb Elimelech, would hide their identity as tzadikim and great rabbis. Therefore, people mistook them for poor, uneducated people.
Whenever the brothers came to the city of Ludmir, the wealthy people didn't pay attention to them. So they stayed at the home of a poor man who took pity on them.
Many years later, Reb Zusia and Reb Elimelech became very famous. They traveled again to Ludmir; only this time, they came in a coach pulled by two horses. The richest man in town told the coachman, "Please, bring the honored rabbis to my home!" But when the carriage pulled up to his home, he was shocked to find that only the coachman had come to stay and not the rabbis!
When the rich man complained, Reb Zusia and Reb Elimelech responded, "We have come to Ludmir many times before. The only one to show us hospitality was the poor man who gave us food and lodging. We haven't changed since those days except that then we went by foot and now we travel in a coach. Knowing that you never invited us before, we figured that the reason you wanted us to stay in your home was because of the coachman and the horses. That's why we sent them to you, while we stayed in our regular place with the poor man!"
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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