Chasidic Insights

CHASIDIC INSIGHTS PARSHAS CHAYEI SOROH 5765 BS"D

Ch. 24, v. 16: "V'ish lo y'do'oh" - Rabbi Mayer Shapiro of Lublin came into contact with a rabbi who was an eloquent speaker. However, this rabbi often spoke for groups of "enlightened" people who had strayed from the true path. When questioned about this, he responded that he had no bad intentions and was not really of their thinking, but was simply asked to speak for them and as per their ideology.

Rabbi Mayer responded, "Our verse says that no man had relations with Rivkoh. The medrash adds that she wasn't even asked to involve herself in such matters. Since the verse tells us praises of Rivkoh, this added point seems inappropriate, as it only tells of the merits of the local men. We must say that if a person is meritorious he gets no invitations to do something wrong." (Nitzotzei Ohr Hamayer)

Ch. 24, v. 31: "V'onochi pinisi haba'yis umokome lagmalim" - And Hashem's presence is felt in the house, "Onochi," because I have emptied the house of idols. There is therefore room for Eliezer, who comes from the house of Avrohom, the pinnacle of "gomlei chasodim." (Nirreh li)

Ch. 24, v. 35: "VaShem beirach es adoni m'ode va'yigdol" - And Hashem blessed my master Avrohom by virtue of Avrohom's being very humble, "m'ode m'ode he'vei shfal ruach," "va'yigdol," and this in spite of Avrohom's being great. (Nirreh li)

Ch. 24, v. 42: "Vo'ovo ha'yom" - Rashi writes that from here we see that Eliezer had "kfitzas ho'oretz." This miracle was necessary so that Eliezer would remain away from Avrohom a minimum of time. He was Avrohom's student who was "do'leh umashkeh miToroso shel rabo." (Rabbi Shlomo of Radomsk in Tiferes Shlomo)

Ch. 24, v. 63: "G'malim bo'im" - Yitzchok saw that with his marriage to Rivkoh "gomlei chasodim" would be their descendants. (Rabbi Mayer of Premishlan)

Ch. 24, v. 65: "Vatiskos" - Rashi says "k'mo vatiko'veir vatisho'veir." Rivkoh saw Yitzchok, her future husband, for the first time. She was strongly attracted to him. To push away this physical drive she envisioned "vatiskos k'mo vatiko'veir," - she was covered as if she were buried, as per the gemara Brochos, "yazkir lo yom hamisoh." Then her urge was broken, "vatisho'veir." (Divrei Yechezkeil of Shinov)

Ch. 25, v. 2: "Va'tei'led lo" - Avrohom saw no Yiddish nachas from these six children. Why then were they born to him? Avrohom saw prophetically that they had to come to this world, and he likewise saw that they were the source of much impurity. He accepted upon himself to be their father to minimize the power of their impurity. (Rabbi Yehoshua of Ostrova in Toldos Odom)

Ch. 25, v. 7: "Cha'yei Avrohom asher choy" - The life of Avrohom that he lived with enthusiasm. (Rabbi Tzodok haKohein in Pri Tzadik)

Ch. 25, v. 11: "Va'yivo'rech Elokim es Yitzchok bno" - And Elokim gave Yitzchok the blessing that he should be a son of whom Avrohom would be proud. (Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vorke in B'oho'lei Tzadikim)

A GUTTEN SHABBOS KODESH. FEEDBACK IS APPRECIATED. FEEL FREE TO DISTRIBUTE BY COPY OR ELECTRONICALLY. TO SUBSCRIBE SEND REQUEST TO SHOLOM613@AOL.COM.

See also Sedrah Selections and Oroh V'Simchoh