.
Spirituality

TORAH PORTION

Her Kindness Made
Rebecca A Matriarch

Shabbat Mevarechim (Parshat Chaye
Sarah): Genesis 23:1-25:18;1 Kings 1:1-31.

T

he care for the needs of the
26:6-12) with the practice of the kings
vulnerable was the foundation of different lands taking the wives of
principle of the Jewish people.
other men and killing the husbands.
In this week's Torah portion, we are
We have the abduction and rape of
presented with Abraham's
Dinah, Jacob's daughter
slave seeking a wife for
(34:1-31). Likewise, the
Isaac, his master's son.
story of the attempted
He decides that the proof
abuse of the strangers in
of the worthiness of the
Sodom (19:4-11) dem-
woman would be to offer to
onstrates the same evil
draw water for his camels.
intended against defense-
Such a test — to offer to
less strangers.
help a stranger in need
In contrast, we are shown
— is, in fact, the most
the hospitality of Abraham
appropriate trait for one
to the strangers (18:2-8)
Rabb i Eliezer
to become a member and
and even his nephew Lot
C ohen
matriarch of the emerging
apparently learned from
Spec ial to the
Jewish people.
Abraham to offer hospital-
Jewi sh News
A major theme of the
ity and attempts to protect
Book of Genesis is the evil
the strangers in Sodom.
behavior of human beings. At the end
God saved Noah and chose
of the portion of Parshat Berashit, we
Abraham because they demonstrated
read (Genesis 6:2): "The sons of the
the potential for goodness, righteous-
powerful saw the daughters of the
ness and responsibility that was so
subjects, that they were good, and they lacking in the people and cultures
took women from all
among whom they
they chose ..." — at
lived. The victimiza-
which God decides
tion of the weak by the
to bring the flood to
strong is contrasted by
destroy mankind.
the care of the righ-
The strong took
teous for the needs
whichever women they
of the vulnerable and
wanted, regardless of
needy strangers.
their wishes or marital
This trait was the
status. This victimiza-
foundation principle
tion of the weak and
and prerequisite char-
vulnerable by the
acteristic of the incipi-
strong brought about
ent Jewish people.
the flood, and only
Thus, Rebecca's eager
Noah — whose nur-
willingness to help
turing care of the people and animals
the stranger is surely a sign that she
on the Ark demonstrated the opposite would be the appropriate mate for
potential in human beings for good-
Isaac and matriarch of the Jewish
ness, righteousness and responsibility people. ❑
— was saved.
We are presented three different
Eliezer Cohen is rabbi of congregation Or
times in Genesis (12:11-20; 20:2-18;
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The care for
the needs of the
vulnerable was
the foundation
principle of the
Jewish people.

Conversations
What other contrasts do we find between the Patriarchs and Matriarchs
and other figures in Genesis? How does the behavior of the Patriarchs
and Matriarchs serve as a foundation for the morality and ethics of
the Jewish people? How do the stories in Genesis foreshadow the
commandments in the Torah?

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November 20 • 2008 Cl