Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

Download print

Parashat Haye-Sara: Drawing Water From the Well

Parashat Hayeh-Sara tells the famous story of Eliezer, Abraham’s servant, who was sent to Abraham’s birthplace, Aram Naharayim, for the purpose of finding a suitable match for Abraham’s son, Yishak. When Eliezer arrives at the well outside the city, he sees the local girls going to the well to draw water. He prays that G-d should arrange that the girl who offers to give water to him and his camels, after he requests water only for himself, should be the right girl for Yishak. Sure enough, Eliezer approaches Ribka, who had just filled her pitcher with water, and asks if he could drink. She graciously gives him some water from her pitcher, and then offers to provide water for his camels. Ribka returned to the well, drew water and poured it into the trough for Eliezer’s camels.

The Midrash comments that Eliezer approached Ribka because he noticed something miraculous occurring when she approached the well: the water rose to greet her. Eliezer realized that this was no ordinary young woman, and so he decided to approach her and see if she would offer water for his camels.

Rav Levi Yishak of Berditchev (1740-1809) noted that although the water in the well rose to greet Ribka, she had to work hard to draw water for Eliezer’s camels. Apparently, the water that had initially risen went back down into the well. The reason, Rav Levi Yishak explained, is because the true value of a Misva is the effort and hard work invested in it. Once Ribka decided to do the Misva of drawing water for the visitor’s camels, G-d sent the water back down so she would have to work to fulfill the Misva.

We often find it very difficult to observe the Misvot and live a Torah life – but this is precisely the way it is supposed to be. If we want to "draw water from the well" – perform Misvot and gain the immense benefits they offer us – then we need to work for it. We cannot expect the "water" to always "rise" for us, that Misva observance will be easy. Sometimes, the "water" goes back down, and he have to work hard to draw it.


Related Parasha
Parashat Hayeh-Sara: Shidduchim and G-d’s Angel - 2022 Year
Parashat Hayeh Sara: No Good Deed Goes Unrewarded - 2021 Year
Parashat Hayeh Sara- Controlling One’s Money - 2020 Year
Parashat Hayeh-Sara- Heavenly Matches - 2019 Year
Parashat Haye Sarah- Contemplating the Final Redemption - 2018 Year
Parashat Hayeh-Sarah: The Dangers of Vanity - 2017 Year
Parashat Hayeh-Sara: Seven Burials in Me’arat Ha’machpela - 2016 Year
Parashat Hayeh Sarah- Abraham’s Bows - 2014 Year
Parashat Hayeh Sara: It Doesn’t Stop - 2013 Year
Shabbat Morning Class - Parasha Chayei Sarah - 2012 Year
Parashat Hayeh-Sara: Finding the Silver Lining - 2011 Year
Parashat Haye Sara- The Value of Every Moment - 2010 Year
Shabbat Morning Class - Parasha Chayei Sarah - 2010 Year
Shabbat Morning Class - Parasha Chayei Sarah - 2009 Year
Shabbat Morning Class - Parasha Chayei Sarah - 2009 Year
Sefer/Parasha:
Parashat Mishpatim: Our Religious Resume
Parashat Yitro- Partnering With Hashem
Parashat BeShalah- A New Understanding of the Splitting of the Sea
Parashat Bo- Pharaoh and His Advisors
Parashat Vaera- Moshe Was Human
Parashat Shemot- The Egyptian “Furnace”
Parashat Vayehi- Yaakob’s Blessing to His Grandchildren
Parashat Vayigash- The Antidote to Adversity
Hanukah- When Building a Foundation
Parashat Vayeshev- The Precious Value of Silence
Parashat Vayishlah- The Dangers of the Gentle Touch
Parashat Vayeseh- Beware the “Laban Syndrome”
Parashat Toldot: Hard Work and Effort
Parashat Hayeh-Sara: Shidduchim and G-d’s Angel
Parashat Vayera- Lot’s Delayed Escape From Sedom
1002 Parashot found