Rabbi's Corner

In this week’s parashah, Parashat Chayei Sarah, we find the following: “Avraham was old, advanced in years, and HaShem had blessed him in all things. And Avraham said to the senior servant of his household, who was in charge of all he had: ‘Place your hand under my thigh.  I want you to swear by HaShem,       G-d of heaven and earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from among the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live. Instead, go to my land and to my birthplace and there find a wife for Yitzchak my son.’” (Bereshit 24:1-4) What most people do not see here is there appears to be a major trust issue between Avraham and his most senior household servant whom our tradition identifies as Eliezer.  What is this trust issue that has raised its “ugly head?”  It is this: Why did Avraham make Eliezer swear he would follow Avraham’s order to him?  Why did this man who was in charge of all of Avraham’s worldly possessions (i.e.- his wealth) need to take an oath in order to prove his trustworthiness to his master?  Perhaps the following story will increase our understanding of this most important point in the history of the People Israel.

Once, as Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, z”l, was traveling to a distant city, he passed through a small town and decided to rest in one of its many inns that accommodated travelers.  Because the innkeeper sensed that Rabbi Salanter was a true ben Torah, he approached the Rabbi and asked: “Excuse me, but would you happen to be a shochet?  I have a cow in the barn that needs to be slaughtered.  I usually go to our neighboring town to have it slaughtered, but if you are a shochet, you can save me a great deal if time and effort in making the trip there.”  Rabbi Salanter responded to the innkeeper by saying that he was indeed not a shochet.

About an hour later, Rabbi Salanter approached the innkeeper and asked him the following question: “Perhaps you could be so kind as to lend me some money?”  The innkeeper was quite taken aback by the Rabbi’s request and he replied: “Give you a loan?  Why I do not even know you!  How can I trust you to pay me back?”  Without batting an eye, Rabbi Salanter responded as follows: “Listen to what you just said.  When it came to loaning me money, even if only a small amount, you would not trust me as I am a stranger to you.  Yet when you wanted your cow slaughtered, you were fully prepared to rely on me even though you have absolutely no idea who I am.  Shechita involves many intricate halachot.  Why were you so sure that I possess enough Yirat HaShamayim (Fear of Heaven) to be a proper shochet?”

Avraham Avinu, Abraham our Father, trusted Eliezer with all his worldly possessions.  But it was different when it came to finding a wife for his beloved son Yitzchak.  Why was it to be so different?  Because the woman who was to become Yitzchak’s wife had to literally become the next Sarah.  Not only did she have to be Yitzchak’s wife, but she had to be the next Matriarch of what would become the People Israel.  Taking care of physical property was important, to be sure.  But Eliezer was literally performing a task that would literally change the world.  It is for that reason that he had to commit his heart and soul to the task at hand by swearing allegiance to his master.  We, the People Israel, can do no less in keeping and maintaining our commitment to the Torah, to ourselves, and, most important of all, to Hashem.

NOTE: This is my last submission to “Rabbi’s Corner” as your Rabbi.  It has been my honor and privilege to serve you over the past four years.  May HaShem continue to bless Congregations of Shaare Shamayim and its members.