(Genesis 23:1-25:18)

(Haftara: Melachim I,  1:1-31)

1. [24:50] “…it is God’s doing…” Bethuel and his family were idol worshippers. Why did they say that these events are God’s doing? Can one be an idol worshipper and also believe in the one universal God?

2. [24:63] “And Yitzchak went ‘lasuach basade’…” Rashi says that Yitzchak was praying in the field. Since this was much before we had a set prayer in the prayerbooks, it means that he spoke to God spontaneously about what was in his heart and on his mind. What are the advantages of set prayer from the prayerbooks and what are the advantages of spontaneous prayer?

3. [24:67] “…and she became his wife and he loved her…” We are told that Yitzchak loved Rivkah. According to the midrash, Yitzchak was somewhat traumatized because he was almost sacrificed on an altar. What does the fact that Rivkah gave water to the camels without being asked, show about the fact that she was capable of creating a “love” relationship with Yitzchak?

4. [24:67] “…and he took Rivkah and she became his wife and he loved her…” The Ramban says that Yitzchak loved Rivkah because she was righteous like Sara. Is it “true love” if somebody loves someone because she reminds him of someone else?

5. [Haftara: Kings I, 1:28 ] “…’Call Bat-sheva to me’…” King David had sinned with Bat-sheva, but he had sincerely regretted his sin, and, in fact, their child, Shlomo became the next king. The Talmud tells us that someone who sins and then sincerely becomes pure and moral is greater than someone who lives a life of total purity and morality and never sins. How is such a person greater?

Commentary

If there is anything that a person can correct and put in order, he should do it without delay. And he should not worry about that which he is unable to fix. One should always concern oneself with self -improvement and with improving the world. This should be done with the greatest mental clarity that one is capable of.

–R. Avraham Y. H. Kuk, 1865-1935, Lithuania and Israel.

This study page is dedicated to the memory of Gad Eliahu ben David and Kochava—Eli Zucker

And this study page is dedicated to the memory of Sarah Bella bat Yitzchak Kummer, Chaim Yosef Yechiel ben Eliyahu Kummer and Eliyahu and Margaret Kummer