Within the relatively short parsha of Chayei Sara we find countless lessons that are embedded within the told stories. In Eliezer’s search for a wife for Yitzchak Avinu, he calls out in prayer, asking that Hashem send a sign to show him who is worthy to be the next progenitor of the Jewish nation. The sign will be that when he asks for water, the young woman will be generous enough not only to give to him, but to also offer water to the camels.
An important and insightful question can be asked about Eliezer’s request: If he was asking for a miraculous, Divine sign to reveal the destined wife of Yitzchak, why not ask that "the one" should go out of her way to offer him and his camels water to drink, before he can even ask her the favor? Why does Eliezer specify that he first ask for her help, and then determine how generously she responds?
The Ishbetzer Rebbe provides a profound answer to this question. He suggests that Eliezer models for us the perfect balance between hishtadlut (human effort) and bitachon (trust in Hashem). One cannot idly wait around for miracles to happen - for our lives to be lived, our desires, goals, and needs to be fulfilled - without putting in our time and energy. At the very same time, we must also turn to Hashem in prayer and supplication, realizing that we cannot rely on human effort alone to complete any task.
A similar lesson is gleaned from a later scene in the parsha, as the Torah describes: vayeitzei Yitzchak lasuach basadeh (Yitzchak went to pray in the field). Commentaries note the unusual word lasuach, which technically translates as to converse. The use of this ‘casual’ word reminds us that our prayers should not be limited to the designated times for prayer, or restricted by the printed words in the siddur. We should constantly be speaking to Hashem, conversing with Him as we live our lives.
Just as we learn that prayer should come into our daily lives, our daily struggles should be part of our prayers. Even during times of ‘designated’ prayer we should be inserting our own voice, asking for our personal needs, and expressing our most pressing concerns. Rav Moshe Taragin suggests that the seemingly “distracting” thoughts that come to mind during our tefilot should not be seen or treated as disruptions at all –instead, we should make the concerns, excitements, and plans for the day that invade our thoughts during prayer part of our prayer – we should transform these thoughts into requests and prayers for Divine assistance with the daily chores to the greater aspirations that consume us throughout our days.
I hope we can all internalize this lesson from the parsha – to recognize the importance of taking our own strides forward, but realizing that part of our efforts should include turning to Hashem to ask that our efforts be fruitful. May we all learn to integrate prayer into our lives, and incorporate the ceaseless chatter that goes on in our minds into the constant conversation that we have with Hashem throughout our lives. And, may Hashem hear our words, allay our concerns, answer our requests, and help us in all the ways we strive to succeed in our lives. Shabbat Shalom, Taly
