As our parasha begins, Sarah dies at the age of 127 and Avraham buries her in the Cave of Machpela. Although Ephron offers to give the burial ground to Avraham for free, Avraham insists on paying the full price.
Avraham is now an old man and he wants to find a wife for his son, Yitzchak. It is important to Avraham that Yitzchak marry someone from his family so he sends his servant, Eliezer back to Charan to find a wife for Yitzchak. As soon as he arrives, Eliezer meets Rivka at the well. Rivka offers water to Eliezer and his camels. This was the “sign” that Eliezer was waiting for. He speaks with Rivka and her family and she agrees to return with Eliezer to Canaan and to marry Yitzchak. The parasha ends with Rivka and Yitzchak marrying.
After Eliezer met Rivka at the well and she “passed” the test, Eliezer goes back to her house and meets her brother, Lavan. He tells Lavan what happened at the well. He says:
It is agreed that Rivka will go to Canaan to marry Yitzchak. At this point, Eliezer gives gifts to Lavan.
There is a lot of giving in this story.
Who is giving and what are they giving?
In your opinion, why do you think Eliezer chose this test for determining who Yitzchak should marry?
In Avot d'Rabbi Natan, there is a midrash that says:
אם נתן אדם לחברו כל מתנות טובות שבעולם ופניו כבושים בארץ, מעלה עליו הכתוב כאילו לא נתן לו כלום. אבל המקבל את חברו בסבר פנים יפות, אפילו לא נתן לו כלום, מעלה עליו הכתוב כאילו נתן לו כל מתנות טובות שבעולם:
(4) Even if a person gives someone the most precious gifts in the world but his face is gloomy, then the Torah considers it as if he gave nothing. But one who greets his friend with a pleasant countenance is considered to have given the best gifts in the world, even if he did not actually give any gifts at all.
What is the message of this midrash?
Why do you think that greeting someone cheerfully is such a big gift?
Giving to others is a big part of being Jewish. We have lots of examples of people who have used their great wealth to help the Jewish people. As Spiderman’s Uncle Ben says, “Remember, with great power, comes great responsibility.”
If you had a lot of money to give to a Jewish tzedakah (charity), where would you give it and why?