The Torah Link

Eliezer the loyal servant of Avraham was on a search. He was looking for a wife for Yitzchak. Unsure how difficult the task would be, he set out with ten camels, laden with enormous wealth, to ensure the success of his mission.

When Eliezer arrived in the town to which Avraham sent him he was thirsty. He stood himself in front of the city well and began to pray. He said, "G-d, please grant me success on my mission. I stand at the well as the girls of the town come to draw water. The girl that offers to draw water for me and for my camels, she is the girl who is fitting for Yitzchok." Eliezer finished his prayer, and immediately it was answered. Rivkah emerged from her home and offered to draw water for Eliezer and his camels. Through her act of kindness she was chosen to be the next Matriarch of the Jewish people.

This is certainly a beautiful story about the power of prayer. Eliezer prayed sincerely for the success of his mission, and his prayer was instantly answered.

There is, however, a critical question that needs to be asked. Where did Eliezer get the chutzpah to offer such a prayer, and to make such a condition? "The girl who provides for me..." Since when did Eliezer the loyal servant of Avraham become so lazy? Why didn't he just draw the water himself?! Most astounding is that even as Rivkah draws the water for him and his ten camels, Eliezer stands by and doesn't offer to help.

Rav Shimon Schwab explains that the custom of the town was that a foreigner was not entitled to take water from the communal well. As a foreigner, Eliezer was simply not entitled to take water for himself. The only way that he could get water was if someone from the town would "adopt" him as their guest. Eliezer didn't make his condition out of laziness. Eliezer made his condition out of sheer desperation. Despite the wealth that he had with him on his ten camels, without someone's kindness of hospitality, Eliezer was helpless.

As Eliezer stood vulnerable in a foreign city he began to pray. He was praying both to be provided for, and for the success of his mission. At that moment Eliezer truly understood the legacy of Avraham, the legacy of kindness. Avraham set his tent in the desert where he would provide for the poor and the wealthy alike; he provided for the wanderers and also for the merchants. Everyone basked in the benevolence of Avraham. Eliezer said, "If there is a girl who is like Avraham, and will provide for me, then she is worthy of joining the Jewish family."

Often in life we make the mistake of thinking that money runs the world. We figure that somehow, with money, we can provide for ourselves. But deep down we know that money has significant limitations. For all that it is worth, money can't buy a genuine kind word. It can't buy true friendship. Sometimes, it can't even buy a drink of water. Money doesn't run the world.

So what does run the world? King David told us. "The world runs on kindness."

The clarity that Eliezer was granted on that day set the tone for the destiny of the Jewish people. Rivkah was chosen because of her act of kindness. Avraham, and by extension, his servant Eliezer, taught us a precious lesson. The world doesn't run on money. The world runs on kindness: The kindness of G-d to us, and the kindness that we extend daily to one another.

With best wishes for a wonderful Shabbos,

Rabbi Mordechai Rhine
Young Israel of Cherry Hill
Torah Links of Cherry Hill
www.teach613.org

CD / Partnership Offer: I am pleased to announce that recordings of the extraordinarily popular Perek Shira series are now available. Anyone who partners with us with a sponsorship of $180 or more will receive the first three classes of Perek Shira, complete with relevant source material, as our gift to you. Contact us for details.

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This week!

Perek Shira: Song of the Universe, got off to a super start. This Monday the topic will be "The Fig and Yehoshua, the devoted student". For men and women- Newcomers are welcome-Monday evenings at 8:00pm.To RSVP or for more information please call Shari at 856-321-0577.

Women's Shemiras Halashon meets this week on Monday night at 9:20pm. For more information contact Cindy at 856- 321-1981.

Back to the Basics: A new text based course on the laws of daily living, will meet this Sunday, at 10:00am, at Young Israel of Cherry Hill. For men and women! For more information contact Cindy at 856- 809-0640.

The Mitzvah Series, continues 6:30pm on Tuesdays at the Torah Links Judaic Center. This week we will begin the topic of Blessings on food. For more information contact Yuri at 856- 809-0640.

TAKE TEN FOR TALMUD: Mini-Daf Yomi class (Highlights of the Daf) meets fifteen minutes before shacharis in Young Israel. Join this group for rapid, advanced Talmud study. For more information contact Abe at 856- 414-1095.

Shacharis in Young Israel of Cherry Hill is 6:45am weekday mornings, and 8:30am on Shabbos and Sunday. Maariv is at 9:00pm Sunday through Thursday.
For more information contact Kenny at 856- 482-2684.

ATTENTION WOMEN: Please hold the date: Motzoei Shabbos, December 13
for an evening of inspiration for Women and girls, featuring a dramatic movie/ play on Shemiras Halashon
Enjoy a wonderful evening with friends while experiencing this most powerful DVD presentation entitled, "From Outside the Camp.".
Doors open at 8:15pm. Presentation begins at 8:30pm.
Suggested minimum donation is $10, which includes light refreshments.
At Young Israel of Cherry Hill, 817 Cooper Landing Road
For more information please contact yittie. rhine@gmail.com or Cindy at katz_crew@yahoo.com

Please hold the date: A special evening with Rabbi Yerachmiel Milstein is planned for Motzoei Shabbos, December 20, in the Cherry Hill Public Library. For more information please contact Abe at 856- 414-1095.

A special children's event with Mordechai the Music Man is being planned for December 14 at 1:00pm at Young Israel of Cherry Hill. For more information please call Dan Eisenstein at 667-2136.

RABBI FRAND LIVE! Meets every Thursday night at 9:00pm at Young Israel. For more information please call Abe at 856- 414-1095.
Rabbi Yosef Levenbrown gives a Shiur in Hilchos Shabbos at Young Israel, Tuesday nights at Young Israel. For more information please call Mordecai at 856-482-1511.

Question of the week: Both the city of Sodom and Rivkah's hometown placed restrictions on visitors. What is the essential difference between them?