Weekly Reading Insights:
Chayei Sara 5779

Overview of the Weekly Reading

To be read on Shabbat Chayei Sara, 25 Cheshvan 5779/Nov.3, 2018

Torah: Genesis 23:1-25:18; Haftorah: Kings I 1:1-31 (because the first verse is like Gen. 24:1)

Chayei Sara is the 5th Reading out of 12 in Genesis and it contains 5314 letters, in 1402 words, in 105 verses

Sarah died at the age of 127. Avraham bought the Cave of Machpelah. Avraham sent his servant to look for a wife for his son, making him swear not to bring back a Canaanite bride. The servant left for Charan, and arriving at the well, asked G-d to give him a sign. Rivkah arrived to draw water. The servant asked if he may have some, and after he drank she drew more water for his camels. The servant spent the night in her father's house. Her family agreed to let Rivkah marry Yitzchak. Avraham remarried Keturah, who bore him six sons. Avraham died at the age of 175, and was buried in the Cave of Machpelah, next to Sarah. Ishmael had twelve sons, each princes for their nations. He died at the age of 137. His descendants lived along the border of Egypt all the way to Assyria.


An essay from
Rabbi Shaul Yosef Leiter, director of Ascent

(for a free weekly email subscription, click here)


In this week's portion - Chayei Soroh, Soroh our Matriarch passes away. Immediately after her burial Avrohom starts looking for a wife for his son Yitzchok. Initially, Avrohom gives his servant Eliezer very clear instructions about where to look for a future daughter-in-law, and even requires Eliezer to take an oath before he sends him on his mission. The verse says (Beraishis 24:10), "And the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed with all the good of his master in his hand…" What does "all the good of his master" mean?

The simplest explanation is suggested by the Kli Yakar, that "all the good" refers to the ten loaded camels, and food and jewelry that is mentioned here and also later in the narrative. Avrohom gave all of his possessions in order to guarantee the success of Eliezer's mission of finding a suitable wife for Yitzchok. We hold back nothing when the future of the Jewish people is at stake.

Rashi, probably assuming that Avraham's wealth was much greater than just ten laden camels, and since the verse actually says, "in his hand" suggests that "all the good of his master" refers to a written contract, passing ownership of all that Avraham owned to Yitzchok, into Eliezer's control.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe pointed out fifty years ago that there is an important lesson here for each of us--the extent to which a father must give himself over to the education of his child. It is understood by all primary sources that at this point, Yitzchok was thirty-seven years old. Not only was he an adult, he was also on a very high spiritual level after the trial of being bound as an offering ("akeidat Yitzchok") that was described at the end of last week's portion. Nevertheless, Avraham was still concerned about Yitzchok and involved in directing his path in life, even to the extent of giving away all his possessions to help guarantee a suitable mate for his son. We should try to emulate our forefather, Avrohom.
The Sifse Cohen suggests that "all the good of his master" were spiritual accomplishments. This was the most valuable merchandise Avrohom had to give for his son's benefit.

The LIkut comes from a different perspective. He says that the words, "all the good of his master" actually refer to Yitzchok's future, that Avraham was putting his son's future into his trusted servant's hands. It would be Eliezer's choice whether he would bring home a righteous woman or not--she who would be the mother of all future generations of the Jewish people. Sometimes you just have to let go and trust someone else to get the job done.

Whichever interpretation we choose, the verse says that Avraham gave Eliezer EVERYTHING to help arrange an appropriate shidduch for his son Yitzchok. Rabbi Elazer Wilhelm told me the following story. There was once a family where the parents had such difficulties that the oldest daughter raised her younger brothers and sisters for many years. She not only cooked and cleaned, she bought them clothes, helped them with their homework, rewarded them when they were good and punished them when they were not.

As the children matured they realized how much their older sister was helping them. They decided to buy her a gift. They saved and collected and skimped on candy, did extra household chores, everything they could, to raise money for a gift. They decided to use the money to buy a necklace. The oldest child went to a local jeweler and told him that she wanted to buy a gift. The jeweler saw a young girl and showed her things appropriate for her age. The girl said "No, I need something more adult." They looked at different items and the girl finally chose a necklace that she felt was perfect. The jeweler asked her how much money she had. She pulled out a bag of coins from her school bag and together they counted it. Two hundred shekels (about $60). The jeweler was not sure what to do. He said that this necklace cost ten times the amount she had.

The girl then explained that the money is to buy a gift for her older sister and that is ALL THERE IS--this is everything. THERE IS NO MORE MONEY, WE DID ALL WE COULD. The jeweler thinks this over and then responds-"Done, you have a deal."

When the older sister was given the gift she was touched but also concerned. How could the children have bought such an expensive item? The next day she visited the jeweler and told him that she did not want to take something that was acquired in an inappropriate way.

The jeweler responded that all was in order. Then he explained: Usually people come here, choose an item, ask the price and then start bargaining. We settle on a price, they take the item and leave. They have not given me what I asked for, but more importantly, they have not given me their ALL. I am sure they have more money somewhere. For them the item is just another luxury. Your sister came in, chose an item and when it came time to pay, she gave me her ALL. Really everything she had. So I also gave her all I could give.

The Torah's message for us is that only we give our ALL, can we expect others to give theirs. Whether a husband and a wife, a teacher and a student, a Jew and his relationship with G-d. If you give your ALL, you will get ALL.


Shabbat Shalom, Shaul


(for a free weekly email subscription, click here)
For last year's essay by Rabbi Leiter on this week's Reading, see the archive.

 


Redesign and implementation - By WEB-ACTION