Torah Gems - November 2
This week's Torah portion is Chayei Sarah. Mincha begins tonight at 5:24 pm, and candles may be lit no later than 5:19 pm. Mincha will begin tomorrow at 5:04 (Talmud study will still be held at 5 pm). Shabbat ends not before 6:19 pm.
KI takes great pride in having produced nearly 50 rabbis, scholars, and professional educators over our 90 year history. Today, we pause to honor, as well, more than a dozen current KI members who are rabbis. Some of them have agreed to share a brief comment on a passage in this week's Torah portion. When Abraham's servant Eliezer prays for success in his mission to find a bride for Isaac, his prayer (the first of its kind in the Bible) offers an opportunity to ponder how we imagine God's rapport with the words we utter in prayer each week in our Main Sanctuary and daily in our Chapel, enjoy.
"And he said, "O Lord, God of my master Abraham, grant me good fortune this day, and deal graciously with my master Abraham" (Genesis 24:12)
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Samson Raphael Hirsch says of our the choice of words Hakrei na, "Nothing is farther from the Jewish concept of mikreh than the idea of "chance" (Rather it) refers to moments in life that he himself did not direct but which directed him(As a result, it is not chance but) could be the most intentional messages sent by the One Who directs and brings about all things."
In other words, to quote Albert Einstein, "Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous."
Rabbi Nechama Goldberg
How does Hope work? Eliezer has an overwhelming commission: a long journey, the responsibility to find a spouse for Isaac, and the obligation to negotiate with strangers while carrying treasures from Abraham's house. We too face tough missions including: work challenges, health issues, family pressures, community demands. How do we plug away without being paralyzed by worry or stress? Eliezer is a model: first he takes a time-out-- notice verse 12 begins vayyomar (it means both "he thought" and "he said") which is accented with a shalshelet requiring a deep breath and a pause because Eliezer relaxes in order to brainstorm about his situation. He visualizes achieving his goal rather than bemoaning his fate. Then focusing on values he learned from Abraham (especially hospitality), he verbalizes how he will take an ordinary situation (shepherdesses watering their flock) and will creatively turn it into an opportunity to find the right girl. Finally, by asking for God's help, he reminds himself that he is not alone in his struggles. In his ability to take risks, seek help, trust that things will work out, and succeed, Eliezer is one of the heroes of the text. As Rabbi Maurice Lamm writes in The Power of Hope: "Fear paralyzes us. It provides no energy, gives us no courage, offers no practical solutions." Rabbi Lamm suggests always reminding ourselves: "I am the hero of my own life story-- I will behave like one."
Rabbi Judy Weiss
One of the most pervasive qualities of Biblical Man was a belief in G-d's providence in human affairs. We are impressed by the fact that this prayer for divine guidance comes from Abraham's humble servant. Its relevance to today's world is that no matter what our station in life is, we all need G-d's guidance and we are equal in G-d's sight. this is an example of Judaism's democratic outlook.
Rabbi William E. Kaufman
Avraham's servant could have dismounted from his camel and headed straight to the well. Instead, he pauses to pray for hesed, for Divine love for Avraham, and defines what he is seeking - a woman whose love for others would embody that hesed. Later, Isaac prays in the field just before Rebecca arrives, and I cannot help but imagine that he is praying to find his life partner. Prayer helps us name our deepest yearnings, and when our heart and mind open to what we most need and hope for, only then do we have the possibility of finding that which we seek.
Rabbi Tracy Nathan
Abraham's servant, Eliezer, makes a powerful request of God that he "make happen" the discovery of a proper young maiden for a shiddukh with his master's son, Isaac. The verb is strange: it is the hifil or causative mode implying very strong action. The point is: you have to take strong action and not be passive if you are going to do something important and earth-shattering. And what is more important than making a good match between a man and a woman? The sages charmingly suggest that God is constantly busy making matches for marriage. And so should we if we are ever to stem the tide of mixed marriages or no marriages. This explains why, in my next life, I expect to come back as Yenta the Matchmaker.
Rabbi Gilbert S. Rosenthal
In the polytheistic world of Abraham, the non Hebrew Eliezer, on a
mission for his master Abraham, prayed to the GOD OF ABRAHAM for
success on his mission to find a proper bride for Isaac. He was
looking for a kind-hearted and good natured woman. Eliezer was
successful in his mission and found Rebecca. This reminds me of our
teacher Rabbi Robert Gordis' definition of a natural miracle: when the right thing happens at the right time to the right person. Thus, God
answered Eliezer's prayer.
Rabbi Marc Samuels
Eliezer refers to a powerful force active in the world and in human life. Carl Jung called it synchronicity. For example, you meet the right person just at the right time as Eliezer did. Or, for example, you are agonizing over a decision and you see a billboard with a sign that says JUST DO IT! For people of faith and for believing Jews it is called Hashgachah.
Rabbi Joseph Schultz
It's all about the ask. We don't know the outcome, all we know is we need to ask. We can't go through life alone; the Jew returns to the Divine, creator and giver of blessing.
Rabbi David Starr
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