A guest post by Rabbi Aaron Fink (my father), Dean of Ateres Bais Yaakov on Monsey NY. Part of a weekly Dvar Torah (Torah “Thought”) series.
Well at Home
The tale of Eliezer’s search for a wife for Yizchok is replete with important messages still relevant today. Significantly, the spot where Eliezer stopped to pray is the same location where Yaakov Avinu discovered Rachel and where Moshe Rabbeinu was introduced to his wife Tzippora. It is the be’er, the communal well. It is interesting to note that two of our patriarchs, Yitzchak and Yaakov as well as Moshe Rabbeinu, each met their life’s partner in an identical venue. What message is being imparted by this “coincidence”?
There is a deep insight to be gained here of how one is to structure the values of home and family, past, present and future. Chazal point out that the be’er is representative of the cistern of spirituality. It is the “drawing-point” for the sweet waters of Torah which connects us to Hashem Yisborach each and every day. Poured into the decanter of life, they are there for the drinking. The mayim chayim is ready to nourish our family, quench our thirst and saturate our home with ruchniyus.
The symbolism is profound. To create a home and sustain a family, we must be willing to surround the spring of Torah, it being the focus of our life. We must drink from its sweet, refreshing spiritual water. When the fountain of Torah is placed at the center of our lives, we have the potential to emulate our avos and distinguish ourselves as did our “Patriarchs” – with mesiras nefesh and total devotion to Hashem. When we look to the be’er for guidance and inspiration, we can model for our children the Torah leadership, clarity and vision of Moshe Rabbeinu.
Continuing this theme, we are taught toward the end of the Parsha of how Yitzchok Avinu builds a new home for himself and his family after the death of his father, Avraham. With the passing of Avraham Avinu it was now up to Yitzchok to be responsible for the continuity of hisgalos haShechina and transmit it to his children. The very foundation of Klal Yisrael was now his responsibility! Hashem Yisborach reassures and blesses him, as the Torah recounts, “vayihee acharei mos Avraham vayivarech Elokim es Yitzchak b’no.” But the same posuk continues and adds “vayeishev Yitzchok im Be’er L’chai Roei,” that Yitzchok Avinu moved his family and took up residence at the well of L’chai Roie . What is the relationship between the first half of the verse and its conclusion? The posuk is illustrating for us Yitzchok Avinu’s response to being offered the birchos Shamayim and his reaction to the responsibility for rearing a Jewish family which he and Rivka Imeinu now shared alone. He did not take up residence just anywhere; he wanted to be sure that all would be “well” at home.
Yitzchok understood and modeled for us the derech we must still follow today in order to maximize the bountiful blessings Hakadosh Baruch Hu bestows upon us. Indeed, to secure that his home would be the mikdash me’at that the Ribbono shel Olam intended, Yitzchok Avinu chose to anchor himself and his young family around the be’er. We can, too. It is our best hope to assure that all will be well at home.
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