The question for this week is why does Eliezer refer to himself as Abraham's servant throughout the parshah only to return home and report only to Isaac?
In this week's Torah portion, we find the following verse: " Laban and Bethuel [both] spoke up. 'It is something from God!' they said. 'We cannot say anything to you, bad or good" (Genesis 24:50).
There is an assumption among the commentators that whenever two people say something together, the older individual is mentioned first. Whenever this is not the case, commentators explain the deviation.
Rashi explains that Laban, being evil, did not give his father a chance to answer and instead spoke first.
Radak explains that Bethuel was old and Laban was taking care of him and helping him.
Our job here is not to decide who is correct but to see what we can learn from each explanation. It appears to me that both Rashi and Radak are discussing two different mitzvos in the Torah.
Radak speaks of the mitzvah of honoring one's parents (Exodus 20:12) while Rashi informs us of the mitzvah of revering one's parents (Leviticus 19:3).
The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch says:
(This is all expressed in the masculine but it applies to both parents)
"How are they [parents] to be revered? You must not occupy designated place in the council of elders and with his friends, or the designated place in which he prays, and you must not sit in his designated place at his dining table. You must not contradict his words, or even corroborate his words in his presence, even to say 'father is right.' To what extent must you revere them? If you were dressed in costly clothing and presiding over the assembly and your father or mother came and tore your clothing, struck you on the head and spat in your face, you must not embarrass them, or show distress in their presence or anger towards them; but you must be silent and fear the King who is King of Kings, the Holy One, Blessed is He, Who so commanded [A footnote cites the Rema that says you are allowed to prevent them for doing these things]. But you may summon them to Beis Din for the damages they inflicted on you" (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 143:2).
"How are they to be honored? You should provide them wth food and drink, with clothing and shelter, escort them to their home and escort them from their home. You must provide these services cheerfully, for even if you provide them daily with choice poultry but do so with ill grace you will incur Divine punishment" (143:3).
I am sure we all have a lot of work to do in this area, at least I know I do.
Have a good Shabbas,
Mordechai
In this week's Torah portion, we find the following verse: " Laban and Bethuel [both] spoke up. 'It is something from God!' they said. 'We cannot say anything to you, bad or good" (Genesis 24:50).
There is an assumption among the commentators that whenever two people say something together, the older individual is mentioned first. Whenever this is not the case, commentators explain the deviation.
Rashi explains that Laban, being evil, did not give his father a chance to answer and instead spoke first.
Radak explains that Bethuel was old and Laban was taking care of him and helping him.
Our job here is not to decide who is correct but to see what we can learn from each explanation. It appears to me that both Rashi and Radak are discussing two different mitzvos in the Torah.
Radak speaks of the mitzvah of honoring one's parents (Exodus 20:12) while Rashi informs us of the mitzvah of revering one's parents (Leviticus 19:3).
The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch says:
(This is all expressed in the masculine but it applies to both parents)
"How are they [parents] to be revered? You must not occupy designated place in the council of elders and with his friends, or the designated place in which he prays, and you must not sit in his designated place at his dining table. You must not contradict his words, or even corroborate his words in his presence, even to say 'father is right.' To what extent must you revere them? If you were dressed in costly clothing and presiding over the assembly and your father or mother came and tore your clothing, struck you on the head and spat in your face, you must not embarrass them, or show distress in their presence or anger towards them; but you must be silent and fear the King who is King of Kings, the Holy One, Blessed is He, Who so commanded [A footnote cites the Rema that says you are allowed to prevent them for doing these things]. But you may summon them to Beis Din for the damages they inflicted on you" (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 143:2).
"How are they to be honored? You should provide them wth food and drink, with clothing and shelter, escort them to their home and escort them from their home. You must provide these services cheerfully, for even if you provide them daily with choice poultry but do so with ill grace you will incur Divine punishment" (143:3).
I am sure we all have a lot of work to do in this area, at least I know I do.
Have a good Shabbas,
Mordechai
posted by Mordechai18 at 2:25 AM
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