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RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL:JEWISH RENEWAL:JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL:ELIEZER:RIVKA:WELL
"A potter does not examine defective vessels, because a single blow would break them. What then does he examine? Only the sound vessels, for he will not break them even with many blows. Similarly, God tests not the wicked but the righteous. "- Midrash Rabbah
JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL:COMMENTS:SHABBAT 11/22/08:HEBREW COLLEGE,MA
Shalom:
Below are some comments coming in from our fellow talmudim and chaverim. I note that we have many rabbis as well as Hebrew School teachers among our class mates. We would all love to hear what your thoughts are on the parashot, haftarot and the Talmudic commentaries, even if you just wish to copy and paste your sermons or class notes. Thanks.
From Sharon:
I find it interesting that three of our Hebrew leaders met their wives at wells. Eliezer first met Rebekah, who later became Isaac's wife, at the well. Jacob met his wife, Rachel, at the well. Moses met Tsipporah, who later became his wife, also at a well. Miriam the Talmud tells us sustained the Israelites in the wilderness by bringing them to wells. Is this because the Torah is alluded to as 'water.' And Joseph was thrown into an empty pit, he was without 'water' beginning our people's first exile, to be redeemed by Moses giving them 'water', Torah.
Later we see that Jacob was sent out of the 'land' to find his own wife (wives?) at uncle Laban's. And Abraham left the 'land' to go to Egypt. And of course all of the sons of Jacob left the 'land' to go to Egypt, most of their own will, and one as a slave (Joseph). But Isaac was the only one who was born in the 'land' and never left the land and died in it. The Midrash says that Isaac obtained a special level of holiness from almost becoming a sacrifice and hence was not to leave the 'land.'
The Midrash also discusses "And Abraham was old, advanced in days." Why not advanced in years? It reminds us to make each day count and to accomplish as much in a day as we can. When we squander days, we soon squander years. But when we live each day till its spiritual fullest, doing mitzvoth, engaged in study, prayer, helping others, our lives are measured in days.
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From Werner:
I am struck with parasha Chayei Sara that the majority of this Torah portion has to do with Eliezar and his search for a bride for Isaac. What I see is the long narrative, much repetition, that is usually not in the Torah, but what one finds in Midrash. There is more detail in this story than we find in Moses telling us how to perform mitzvoth.
In the Midrash: ''Rav Acha said: The conversations of the servants of our forefathers are dearer to the Omnipresent than the Torah of their children. After all, the parasha of Eliezer is repeated in the Torah, while many laws can only be derived through subtle hints."
The Torah tells us the actual encounter between Rebecca and Eliezer and then has Eliezer tell about the meeting in his own words. The above Midrash's comment of "conversations of the servants" has us pay attention to Eliezer's version and the Torah's accounting.
Verse 4 shows that Eliezer is commanded by Abraham to return to his birthplace (moladeti) to find a bride.
Eliezer in verses 38-40 says he specifically was sent to Abraham's family (beit avi). The rabbis in the Talmud try to apologize for Eliezer calling moladeti means family, but when we look at parasha Lekh Lekha 12:1 we see how the Talmudic rabbis might be off.
In the Torah's account Eliezer gives jewels to Rebecca before he determines her family (22:23). But in Eliezer's story, he says the opposite occurred (22:47). Nachmonides says that Eliezer held the jewels towards Rebecca but only gave them to her when he got answers.
But in Eliezer was ordered to go the Abraham's family, why didn't he do his interviews first to find who was a relative? Why did he originally plan to talk to all the girls at the well at random? Why was he so surprised when he found our Rebecca was related to Abraham (verse 27)?
The Talmud and other Middle Age rabbi say that Eliezer was accurate. Gosh forbid someone should prevaricate. But reading this knowing that humans, even Hebrews and Jews, can and do lie, especially in business transactions (or we wouldn't have tractates of laws of business ethics telling us not to do so), the Torah is clear that Eliezer was sent to his homeland to find a bride and not necessarily she being related to Abraham.
So he hung by the well at the center of town to interview girls. (I did this in college many years ago, but they were called 'watering holes' and serve pitchers of beer and not water.) When the first girl passed hsi test, he give her gift, and only then asked of her parents and found that she was from Nachor.
To seal the deal with Laban and Betuel and stroke their ego Eliezer claims he was sent to specifically find a girl related to Abraham. And that he only gave jewels once he knew Rebecca was related.
What we are seeing is not a liar but a diplomat who can immediately sum of the personality of Laban and his need to have his ego stroked.
When Abraham first commands Eliezer he is not sure his task will succeed (verse 5). Abraham tells him that God will help him (verse 7). Eliezer, armed with God's power, goes. He is clueless and lifts his arms in prayer for answers.(verse 12). And he devises a test to interview the girls.
Even before his prayers are over, a cute girl appears with a pitcher on her shoulder. (verse 15). Eliezer is startled and rushes to her to start the interview (verse 17). Further amazing Eliezer is that the girl passes the test (verse 19). Will this girl and her father agree to a marriage? He then asks the girl her dad's name (verse 23). Eliezer realizing that this entire encounter is Divine, falls on the ground in prayer and gratitude to God (verse 26). He has had an encounter with God (Hashgacha).
Eliezer now has a task that is Divine. It transcend's his boss, Abraham's orders. He follows Rebecca home and tells the story right away (verse 33). He stresses the Divine. By verse 50, Laban understand the Divine mission of Rebecca to be the bride of Isaac, agrees. Eliezer again prayers to God (verse 52).
Our class was talking about the Covenant at Sinai and why bad things occur. We forget that we have a dual covenant. We have one with our patriarchs as well. The first was with God and individuals, the second was the God and a people.
While the Sinai covenant is 613 commandments, some very legalistic, the first is based on values and ideals and spirituality and well as an moral and ethical monotheism. With the destruction of the Temples, and the impossibility of doing most the those 613 mitzvoth, it is the loving kindness values and the spiritual relationship with God and our fellows, as Rabbi Segal, has taught us, that must guide us today, as Jews living Judaism, and not as Hebrews living in Hebraism.
In fact the ethical teaches of the rabbis trump those of legalistic halakah. "Chakham adif mi-navi" (the sage is superior to the prophet). Eliezer's story is lengthy and repetitive so that we can learn real life experience about how God can work in our lives when we have trust, belief, faith and experience with Him.
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From Ellie:
We were talking about the righteous, the wicked, being all caught up in shoahs, and also about Abraham being tested ten times.
"A potter does not examine defective vessels, because a single blow would break them. What then does he examine? Only the sound vessels, for he will not break them even with many blows. Similarly, God tests not the wicked but the righteous. "- Midrash Rabbah
''Tear off a piece of your bread before you eat. You cannot fit it all into your mouth. Do the same with wisdom. For Truth does not begin with Mind. '' The Rebbe
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Very Impressive! Thanks to all.
Very Impressive! Thanks to all.
Have a good week and a great Shabbat!
Rabbi Arthur Segal
Hebrew College, Newton Centre, MA, USA
Via Shamash Org on-line class service
Jewish Renewal
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Hilton Head Island, SC;Bluffton, SC, Savannah, GA
Hebrew College, Newton Centre, MA, USA
Via Shamash Org on-line class service
Jewish Renewal
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Hilton Head Island, SC;Bluffton, SC, Savannah, GA
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