What Do We Do When There Are Questions About the Tzaddik? • The Daily Lesson

Before you is a summary of the topics from the daily lesson as delivered by our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a – yesterday after the Maariv (evening) prayer, Tuesday night, the 21st of MarCheshvan 5786, Parshat Chayei Sarah:

1. I have never heard of taking a shadchan (matchmaker) who is against the shidduch (marriage match). Eliezer wanted his own daughter for Yitzchak and did not understand why Avraham was sending him to Charan.
2. However, if a child comes from righteous roots, even if he is born in tumah (impurity), the Yetzer Tov (Good Inclination) overcomes. But if, G-d forbid, he comes from the wicked, the Yetzer Hara (Evil Inclination) overcomes the Yetzer Tov.
3. Eliezer saw that Esau would descend from Rivka, which is hinted at in the acronym of the words: "V'chadah Al Shikmah" (and her pitcher on her shoulder - the first letters of these Hebrew words spell Esau). At this point, he was truly afraid to bring Yitzchak a wife who would bring Esau into the world. However, the Imrei Noam says "macharish" (remained silent). The moment Eliezer remained silent regarding the kashyas (difficult questions) he had, he merited to see that Yaakov would also descend from Rivka, because "macharish" (מחריש) has the same gematria (numerical value) as Yaakov and Esau (יעקב עשו) combined—showing that Esau was merely the klipah (husk/shell) of Yaakov.
4. Rabbeinu (Rebbe Nachman) says in Torah 56 (Likutey Moharan, Part II) that the word "kashya" (difficulty/question) is an acronym for "Shma Hashem Koli Ekra" (Hear, Hashem, my voice, I call). This teaches you that if you have a kashya (question) about the Tzaddik, you should go to the field and scream there (in Hisbodedus). Eliezer had 15 questions about Avraham: How could he take a wife from a city where the women are the most promiscuous? And how, after Hashem told Avraham "Lech Lecha" (Go forth from your land), could Avraham tell him to go back to Charan to take a wife from there? He had many more questions. But in the end, he remained silent about everything and merited to be called "Baruch Hashem" (Blessed of Hashem).
5. It is written that Sarah was greater than Avraham in prophecy, for she would command the angel. As brought regarding Avimelech (the text mentions Elimelech, likely referring to the king in the context of Sarah), she told the angel "strike," and he struck Avimelech.
6. How could Avraham say, "Please say you are my sister, so that it may go well with me for your sake" – was it so that they would receive a lot of money? Rather, the truth is that "so that it may go well with me for your sake and my soul shall live because of you" means Avraham requested that her angel accompany him. This is because the angel that accompanied him departed the moment he left the Land of Israel. But you, the woman, are surrounded by angels all day long.
7. It is written at the end of Tractate Gittin that if she "spoiled his dish," he may divorce her, even if he "found another more beautiful than her." The explanation is that if he thinks he has found another more beautiful than her, then it is better that he divorces her—he does not have the merit to be married to this woman!
8. One must say to his wife every day, "This time, you are bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh." Speak only words of praise: "We are the true shidduch (match)." "And you have surpassed them all"—of all the women in the world, you are the only one!
9. The Chiddushei HaRim asks: If Eliezer has now become "Baruch Hashem" (Blessed of Hashem) upon his return, can he now propose his own daughter? The answer is that he became "Baruch Hashem," but she had not yet.
10. Avraham was not burned. Tzaddikim are not burned. When the Jews from the First Temple era arrived in the Maghreb countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia), the Sultan asked them, "Who are you? If you are Jews, I have read that Daniel and Avraham were inside the fire; therefore, we will throw you into the fire and you should be saved." One of the simple Jews dreamed of two instances of the word "Ki" (Because/When) and three instances of "Lo" (No/Not), but he did not know the verse. Finally, he said: "When (Ki) you pass through the waters, I am with you, and through the rivers, they shall not (Lo) overflow you; when (Ki) you walk through the fire, you shall not (Lo) be scorched, and the flame shall not (Lo) burn within you." Then he entered the fire, and they saw the three Patriarchs who came to be with him inside the fire, and he emerged alive. It was then that they established the saying of "V'Hu Rachum" (And He is merciful) on Mondays and Thursdays.
11. Now we are learning the Rashi. The girls should say Tehillim (Psalms) until Chatzos (midnight), and then they should say Tikkun Chatzos (Midnight Lamentation). And everyone should learn with his wife "Blessings on Fruit," Chapter 4.