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Shabbat Parshat Chayei Sarah

Sometimes it doesn’t matter who we are. Sometimes our name doesn’t make a difference. Sometimes all that matters is what we are here to do.

Eliezer, who worked for Abraham, was tasked with finding a wife for Issac, Abraham’s son. He thought he spotted the right girl at a well (the olden day equivalent of the local watering hole) and when he arrived at the prospective “in laws” he immediately introduced himself and got down to business. His pitch worked and Rebecca married Isaac and become one of the great mothers of the Jewish people.
When Eliezer introduced himself, the commentaries point out his care use of language. He said “Eved Avraham Anochi” or “the servant of Abraham am I”. He doesn’t mention his own name! Throughout the story his name doesn’t appear.
You see, Eliezer was just channeling his mission. He didn’t matter as much as the assignment. He had a job to do and mixing his own self in would only detract from the ability to complete this undertaking. It wasn’t about him as much as it was about fulfilling the desire of his boss Abraham.
We all have a boss and He’s given each of us a unique mission. We have the ability to make a positive mark on the world. We can make the mission about ourselves and focus on who we are, or we can make it about the mission itself and understand that we represent the boss.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Mendy Hecht
November 6, 2015 | From the Rabbi's Desk | 0

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