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Weekly Reading Insights:
Chayei Sara 5779
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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.
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