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Haoros l'parshas Chaye Soroh

Friday, 25 November 2016

Even after Rivkah told Eliezer that there is room for him to spend the nights in their home, he still stayed standing at the spring until Lavan came running out to great him.

Vatakam Rivkah.... vateilachnu acharei ha'ish (24:61) Rivkah went behind Eliezer. The gemoro says that Manoach was an am haaretz because he walked behind his wife. Eliezer is called 'Damesek Eliezer' = shehayu doleh umashke mitoras rabbo l'acheirim, he taught his Rebbe's (Avraham) Torah to others. He was not an am haaretz!!!

("Better to walk behind a lion than to walk behind a woman.")
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Rivkah only gave Eliezer to drink after he asked; unlike Avraham Avinu who ran toward the three 'men' and invited them in.

Chazal say [concerning the bnos Moav]: Darko shel ish l'kadeim b'mayim u'mazon, v'ein darko shel ishah. It is immodest for women to offer water to a man. Breaching the standars of tznius for the sake of 'chesed' or 'kiruv' are nothing more than ploys of the Yetzer Horah to ensnare us in his web!

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Vayavreich hagmalim michutz la'ir el b'eir hamayim l'eis erev l'eis tzeis hasho'avos. Vayomar Hashem Elokai adoni Avraham hakrei na lefanei hayom. (24:11,12)

Chazal teach us that if someone goes to the riverbank where there are women, if he has another option, he is called a Rasha - even if he keeps his eyes tightly shut!

Eliezer was compelled to be at the well, but he davened to Hashem that his task should be accomplished quickly - - so that he shouldn't have to stand there any longer than necessary!

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Vateired ha'ayna (24:16)

Rivka Imeinu walked with downcast eyes.

Shemiras einayim is applicable to women, too!

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Lavan went to Eliezer and found him waiting at the well. The posuk says: V'hinei omed al hagemalim al ha'ayin. Rashi says: Al hagmalim, LeShomron. he was guarding his camels.

We can now read the possuk: Eliezer was standing and guarding the camels, and guarding his eyes!
He is standing at a well at the time that the Sho'eivos go out, the gemoroh says that if someone goes to the riverside where the women are washing, if there is another route, he is called a rasha, even if he closes his eyes! Eliezer didn't have another route, he had to be there, but he was guarding his eyes just as he was guarding the camels.

Hinei omed al hagmalim al ha'ayin. He was omed on this, he made a conscious effort and put his mind to it.

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Sim na yadcha tachas yereichi (24:2)

Chazal say Yad l'umah tiktzos, how can Avraham tell him to put his hand tachas yereichi?

Rashi says that Avraham looked at it as a Chefetz shel mitzva. Just like a lulav & a shofar, a Sefer Torah or Tefilin. Avraham sanctified himself to such a degree that he turned all his physical hergeishim/feelings & channeled them to Hashem!!!