Thats Bashert?!

BH

In this week’s Parshah, Chaya Sarah, we are introduced to the idea of Jewish Matchmaking. It can be said that the term “a match made in heaven” was coined this week, in the times of Abraham.

Abraham sends his servant, Eliezer, with gifts of jewelry, to find a match for his beloved son, Yitzchak (Isaac). Avraham did not know who it would be, or where she would come from, but he trusted in G-d, whom he had recently accepted as creator of the world.

Who would think? Avraham our famed forefather would take the daughter of Betuel, who had not yet accepted G-d. Imagine it like this: The son of a great Hassidic Rebbi taking the daughter of Christopher Hitchens as his wife. Unfathomable!

How can we explain this? And in more understandable terminology, how can we understand the “art of the Shidduch” (Jewish matchmaking).

Everyone has heard the word Bashert. What does it mean? In this Parshah we are taught the idea of Bashert in its purest form. Jew who was JFB (Jew from birth). He was raised in a home of holiness and purity.

Rivkah on the other hand, was the daughter of the pagan Betuel and sister of the infamous Laban, who was notorious for his dishonorable character. She was raised in Charan which was called "the place of G‑d's wrath." The culture clash must have been enormous.

The shadchan (matchmaker) who thought this one up certainly had a very unique imagination. It would be very difficult to find two people from more different environments. However, it was Bashert. They were made for each other!

This shows the complete faith and trust Avraham had in G-d. He knew that G-d would present the right maiden for his son, Yitzchak. He didn’t even question. Regardless of who Betuel or his family was, Avraham accepted Rivkah for who she was and how she completed Yitzchak.

Avraham believed. In today’s day, many groups within Judaism still implement the Shidduch system. And it still works! People come together from across the globe, and from many varying backgrounds. They create homes based on the same fundamentals that the home of Yitzchak and Rivkah was built upon.

The blessings of this week’s Parshah, and the first Shidduch should be bestowed upon all who are searching for their own Bashert! May we merit to celebrate the unions of many Jewish couples!

Learning from a Modern Miracle

BH

“Lech Lecha Meartzecha” – The three words that this weeks Parsha begins with. This phrase means “go forth from your land.” I can’t help but think… All this talk about 33 Chilean miners, being trapped in a mine for 69 days, and being rescued from the land during the week of Lech Lecha.

In the Parsha, G-d is telling Avraham (Abraham) to go forth from the land in which he is currently situated and to relocate to another land. G-d does not tell him where, nor does he tell him for how long. What Avraham does know is that this new locale will provide better life for him and the descendants G-d promises him in the second verse of the Parsha.

In Chile, 33 miners were tested, in what can be compared to a similar situation as Avraham’s. August 5^th, 2010, a mine collapses in the region of Copiapó. 33 miners are feared gone, as the entrance/exit is now blocked, they are more than 2,000 feet below the earth’s surface, and there emergency food supply is only expected to last 3 days at best.

It’s a dark and gloomy situation, with literally no vision of a viable rescue. Yet, a few weeks down the line, rescue workers discover that all 33 are alive, and have maintained good spirits and health with the help of one another. An open modern day miracle! However, the ordeal is far from over. Nearly two more months will pass before these men will see daylight again.

Avraham was sent from his mine, the land of Charan, to the surface, the Holy Land. It wasn’t an easy ride, but a ride worth the wait. It’s easy for us to read the story of Avraham year after, but I’m not certain we have ever had a “current event” that helps us really understand.

Avraham discovers that there is a G-d. He makes it his mission to spread the word. Some choose to listen, others scoff. The world continues, idol worship and other forms of deities come and go. Today the entire world, whether they choose admit it or not, sees the hand of that G-d that Avraham discovered.

G-d tested Avraham. Time and time again. Avraham continuously chose to accept G-d and obey his command. Today we must still see ourselves as Avraham. We must “go forth from our land,” meaning, out of our comfort zone and toward a lifestyle that G-d shows us. We are to take the leap and we will be led to great reward.

On a closing note, while speaking of “Lech Lecha” – “going from your land” – I would like to share some happenings in my personal life.

This week, I relocated from Brooklyn, NY to Montreal, Canada. I went from my land, my comfort zone, to a new location to explore new experiences. While I had been in Montreal for my high school years, this time would be different.

This time, I am a young professional working with the staff at Chabad @ McGill University in Montreal’s downtown. In the spirit of Avraham and this week’s Parsha, I hope that this relocation – this “going forth” - will reap reward and happiness.

Shabbat Shalom from the Chabad Center (or is it "centre" now that I'm in Canada :) ?) at McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

(Learn more about (or donate to :) ) Chabad @ McGill by visiting www.ChabadMcGill.com)