VOLUME 113 NUMBER 4
Cheshvan 21, 5785
November 22, 2024
Parshas Chayei Sara
Candlelighting Time 4:21 

Eliezer was on a mission. Avrohom sent him back to his origins to find a wife for Yitzchok. Rivka appeared and seemed to fit the bill because she was so helpful and sincere which was exactly the wife that would suit Yitzchok. They went back to her house and were greeted by Lavan, certainly not an outstanding individual but Rivka’s brother. He attended to the needs of Eliezer’s men and animals. Maharil Diskin questions this verse. If the Torah would praise the actions of a righteous individual that would certainly be appropriate. We want to be inspired by the conduct of such people. But why would the Torah want us to know about the conduct of an evil person such as Lavan. What inspiration can we derive from this incident?

Perhaps we can suggest that the propriety a righteous person radiates is of such influence that even someone who is totally disconnected from that type of life and behavior is affected and reacts positively in that situation. Even though Eliezer was only the servant of Avrohom, we do know that he considered his daughter a candidate to become the wife of Yitzchok. Our Sages teach us that Avrohom refused to consider that proposition because Eliezer was a descendant of Canaan, cursed by his father Noach due to his improper behavior when Noach was wallowing in his drunken stupor. However, he was a person of respectable stature. He projected a persona that even Lavan was inspired by. Therefore, Lavan attended to his needs as is proper for such an entourage.   

Indeed, when Avrohom approached the citizens of Cheis for a burial plot for Sara, they greeted him with great honor and ceremony stating that you are a prince of Hashem in our midst. They were steeped in idol worship, yet when Avrohom appeared on the scene they became very reverent and awed of him. I recall that the former Rosh Yeshiva of Lakewood, Horav Shneur Kotler of blessed memory making this observation of this happening. Even the most entrenched nonbeliever can be enthused and aroused from their deep-rooted defiance when meeting someone of illustrious eminence. 

Our Sages in Ethics of our Fathers recommend that we should ‘roll’ in the dust of the footsteps of great men. Literally it means that we should humble ourselves in front of these noble luminaries who are conveying the legacy of Torah that descended from Mt. Sinai. When we commit ourselves to listen intently to their words of wisdom and prudence then we will gain and assimilate their profound ideas and thoughts into our being and enrich our lives. The  Midrash compares this to a person who enters into a shop that sells spices. Even though he may not purchase any however, the mere proximity to the delightful scent that these spices emit will cling to him and he will also have a pleasing aroma that embodies him. So too is it when we embrace our Torah Sages. Their ‘fragrance’ of Torah is transferred to us and we are able to receive inspiration that often is a game changer in our lives and the lives of those that are in our orbit.  

A BYTE FOR SHABBOS

Although Eliezer was of a cursed lineage, he served his master Avrohom with such diligence and devotion that he transformed his very being into one of blessing and acclaim.                     

S’FAS EMES 

GOOD SHABBOS

AS THE TRANSITION TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE TWO ADMINISTRATONS LET US NOT LOSE OUR PERSPECTIVE ON HASHEM’S GUIDANCE. ALTHOUGH MANY ARE EXTREMELY CERTAIN OF WHAT WILL OCCUR UNDER OUR NEW PRESIDENT, WE SHOULD NEVER PREOCCUPY OURSELVES WITH THE GOINGS ON IN THE SECULAR AND POLITICAL WORLD RATHER WE MUST CONTINUE TO BESEECH HASHEM THAT HE WILL ANSWER OUR PRAYERS AND BRING AN END TO THE WAR IN ERETZ YISROEL AND ONLY MUCH SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS TO US IN GENERAL.