Parshat Shavua

Seeing Eliezer act appropriately as a guest reminds us to discuss a practical topic, dealt with in this article by a guest writer

Our parasha deals primarily with Yitzchak, the son or Avraham and Sarah, whose education was at the top of Sarah’s interest. Many parents, in fact, leave no stone unturned to ensure that their children have excellent educations. They pay for good schools, look for a good atmosphere, and try to protect them from dangers of all sorts. For better or for worse, though, the most important factor in their success is the personal example the parents set.

Who was the greatest Talmid Chacham in history to have been born in Syria? Was Eliezer a tzadik or a rosha? What difference does it make to us? What halachos do we derive from Eliezer’s actions?

Our matriarch Sarah’s name (literally and roughly, female officer) hints that she was far more than an excellent wife and mother; she was a leader in her own right. The other name attributed to her, Yiska (see Bereishit 11:29 with Rashi), may also be connected to the word nesicha (princess). However, this week we want to focus on a different type of position of power, as seen in the haftara.