Rabbi's Derasha

A word in Hebrew: Nichush.  In modern Hebrew, it means “to guess.”  This is distantly related to what it means in the Chumash.  The Torah forbids one to follow signs, as in trying to divine the future.  One is not allowed to say, “if a bird chirps outside my window in the morning, then I’ll sell all of my stocks.”  

There are those who say that Nichush is what Eliezer is doing when he is in search of a bride for Yitzchok.  The test he designs in looking for a bride seems to be divination. 

 But others say that there is a logic to it.  He says, “when I ask a girl to give me some drink, she should respond, here is for you and I also want to give the camels to drink.”  What is the logic in that?  R’ Yosef Baer Soloveitchik, the first -- the one in Europe but not the one in Boston -- said that the test will show not just one who is generous and kind but also smart.  

He says that Eliezer is looking for the following: After giving him to drink from her water, she now has two choices -- either to take the jugs back to the house after a stranger has drunk from them, which isn’t wise.  Or she can pour out the rest of the water on the ground, which is rude.  So she adds a suggestion, which is to give the rest of the water to the camels.  This solves the dilemma, and signals to Eliezer that he has found one who is both generous and bright.

But there is something to add here.  Rivka is compatible with Yitzchok because  together they add another layer to the kindness of someone like Avraham Avinu.  When Avraham served the three visitors outside of his tent, he did not take orders.  He showered them with food as generous people often do, but without regard to their specific needs.  Rivka and Yitzchok will represent a giving which is less magnanimous but it will have more focus.  This is what happens when one introduces the quality of “Din,” or judgment, into the equation.  It curtails the Chesed but it can be more effective.  

When we speak about the Avot and Imahot like this, we are describing pure models.  This is why whatever quality they represent has so few limitations.  

Yitzchok’s level of Avoda, or worship, was without limitation.  That is why he was willing to give up his life.  He is the model of worship.  Yet in this week’s Parasha, his moment of prayer is described as “Sicha.”  This means a conversation, a Shmooze, if you will.  It’s not a high level of address.  But the Rabbis identify this as a moment of daily prayer.  

What we learn from this model is that when we Daven, we are not always focused on a specific need.  But we still come together three times a day to speak with Hashem.  As in any conversation, it develops organically, naturally.  Avraham’s Davening had been focused on specific needs (saving Sedom, for example).  Yitzchok’s service is about meeting Hashem regularly in order to foster a relationship, a bond, of worship.  

Davening is a chance to forge a real bond with Hashem.  Not just when we need something specific but so that we will connect to the real force of the cosmos.