Chavarah- Jewish Community Learning

A blog of Jewish study and traditions. Notes from classes: Torah Study with Rabbi Marder, Toledot and Shabbaton as well as other details found of interest.

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Wednesday, October 05, 2011

Details - Rebecca's Family...

Torah Study 10-1

Genesis 24:26-41 Servants prayer. Rebecca's family... Brother Laban.

Eliazer according to Midrash. Prayer to the God of Abraham. Personal prayer. Prayer of praise ... Bowed low. V26. All the way to the ground. SRH - offering entirely to God.

V27. Blessed is Adonai... Offering a blessing ... Giving something. What can we give to God? Translated in a different way. The one from whom blessings come. Or. Translate as a pool of water. God is like a never-ending stream. Like a relationship with God.

Not withheld steadfast kindness... Hessed and emet. Together these words mean more. Kindness and loyalty and truth.

Ibn Ezra. Action given freely...Plus Emet truth always linked together.

SRH. Emotion translated into action. Hessed and love is often blind. Expresses the wishes that are good for you a truthful kindness ...

Rashi. When Jacob is near death ch 49:29. Hessed shel emet Asks to be buried in Israel. Kindness to the dead without expectation of anything in return.

Article From the Jewish week in 2010.

About a Jamacian convert who was shot in a hold up. The honor guard for the dead. Burial society went with him to his burial.

V28. She ran to her mothers house... The idea of the mothers house is unusual? Then the response about her fathers house.

Mothers house also mentioned in book of Ruth and also in the psalm of psalms.

Laban. Brother. First mention. Name means white. He "whitened the face" of Israel. Embarrassment

All of Abrahams family names relate to the moon... They were worshipers of the moon.

V30. He notices the jewelry. Ran to the well to meet the man. Cinematic moment!

Reflects on Laban's greed.

v31. Laban comes to the man... Greeting read differently by commentators.

Come in. Why standing outside?

Robert Altar. Language is nobility. Courtly. Extravagant with self interest.

SRH. All saw the trinkets. But Laban was wanting more from the man.. Greed.

Surprised that he is still at the well. Not a pleasant greeting? More rude.

Made ready the house.. Cleaned out the house. Midrash per Rashi...removed the idols.

Laban is still characterized as thinking only of material things.

V32. Entered the house. Camels were unloaded. Rashi... Loosed their muzzles that were to keep them from eating other people's food.. They were fed.

Midrash... Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair's donkey. According to the Talmud, his donkey would never eat untithed grain. It could sense that the food was inappropriate and would decline of its own accord, without being told that it was forbidden. The Jerusalem Talmud tells us that this is an indication of a righteous person -- that not only will he never accidentally eat something that is not proper but even his animal will not.

Don't rely on miracles when it is a matter of theft. Don't leave your wallet about.

Bathe feet and men with him. Now mentioned the other men. Other attendees. Order camels fed and the the man...feed animals first.

Before eat must tell his tale.. Do not have to wait to eat...

The tale. V34. Compare to the actual incidence at v24.

Repetition Rashi -The everyday conversation is important to God.

Eliazer shifts the story. Abraham's servant. God has blessed his master with many things. (in previous chapter Abrahams wealth less noticed). Master bore son in her old age. Pointing out that Isaac is young. And that the son is to inherit all. Master made him swear.

Not to get wife from where the Cannanites... He modified to focus on the land rather than the idol worship... Leaves out that he forbids Isaac to go there. You shall go to my fathers house to his family. (previous verse only talks about the location).

Words manipulated throughout the tale for positive effect.

Matchmaking... Hassidic commentary. Why change words? Needed to stay clear of describing Isaac vs telling about Abraham. Safer to tell about Abraham!



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