Chayei Sarah

 Yafa Sichatan shel Avdei Avot

The Torah relates that Eliezer told Rivkah’s family about his quest to find a wife for Yitzchak. After several pesukim it records that Eliezer told them, “I came today to the spring” (Bereishit 24:42).

Rashi comments:

I came today - Today I embarked and today I arrived. From here we see that the earth contracted for him and merited Kefitzat Haderech . Said Rabbi Acha: The conversation of the servants of the Avot is more pleasing (“Yafa sichatan shel avdei Avot”) before Hashem than the Torah of their descendants. For the passage of Eliezer is doubled in the Torah while many essential elements of the Torah were given only by means of allusion.

We would have expected Eliezer to tell Rivkah’s family about the miracle of kefitzat haderech, before he told them anything else. It would surely have impressed them to hear that he had embarked on his journey on that very day. Instead he began by telling them about the birth of Yitzchak and about the important mission with which he, Eliezer, had been tasked. Only then did he tell them - in a veiled manner - that he had arrived “today”, in other words, that he had experienced a miracle. Why so?

The Mefarshim answer that Eliezer wanted to avoid the appearance of self-aggrandisement. He wanted to ensure that the focus was on Avraham and Yitzchak, not on him. This is one of several examples in this passage in which Eliezer exhibited wisdom and good character in retelling his exploits to Rivkah’s family. 

Why did Rashi only invoke the principle of “Yafa sichatan shel avdei Avot” at this stage in the narrative? It would surely have been more appropriate to cite it on the pasuk in which Eliezer first begins to talk.

the answer is that :  It is precisely this pasuk in which we see that Eliezer purposely worked to shift the focus from himself  onto Avraham and Yitzchak that indicates that the speech of the servants of the Avot is pleasing.

Eliezer exhibited wisdom in his speech on another occasion in this passage. When relating the events to Rivkah’s family he said, “Then I questioned her and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she said, ‘The daughter of Betuel son of Nachor whom Milkah bore to him.’ And I placed the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her hands.”

Rashi comments:

Then I questioned her … and I placed - He changed the sequence of the events. For he, in fact, first gave Rivkah the jewelry and then questioned her. But in order that they should not catch him with his words (and suspect he was being untruthful), and say to him, “How could you have given her the jewelry when you did not yet know who she was?”

Here again, Eliezer displayed exceptional wisdom - “Yafa sichatan shel avdei Avot”.

A Constant Dialogue with Hashem

During this episode Eliezer was in constant dialogue with Hashem: “Hashem, G-d of my master Avraham, may You arrange it… etc.” He also prostrated himself to Hashem when he saw that the mission had been successful. Finally, he urged Rivkah’s family, “Don’t delay me now that Hashem has made my way successful”.

From here we learn that if a person sees success at the beginning of an endeavor, it is a sign that it has found favour in the eyes of Hashem. He should therefore not delay it at all. Receiving Si’ata diShmaya is a sign that one should not hesitate, but continue full steam.

The Speech of the Servants of the Avot is Pleasing

If a person gives a Shiur in which he discusses matters of mussar and good conduct, his audience may be impressed. “What a great man - he spoke so well”, they may say. However, they have only seen him when he is calm and not under pressure. Then it is easier to speak purely and correctly and thus impact an audience.

Eliezer was under a great deal of pressure, after all he had undertaken a momentous mission. Nevertheless, his perspective remained truthful, his behavior remained exemplary, and his connection with Hashem remained strong throughout. He would pray to Hashem at every stage and thanked Hashem with all his heart when he saw success. This is an example of “Yafa Sichatan” - his speech was as “pleasing” as that of a person giving a Shiur under pressure or stress.

May Hashem give us the merit to be Mekadesh Shem Shamayim in all of our endeavors, particularly through our speech!

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Gad Bouskila