Parshas Chayei Sarah 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
ואקד ואשתחוה לה' ואברך את ה' אלקי אדני אברהם אשר הנחני בדרך אמת ... (כד-מח)
Eliezer went to find a shidduch for Yitzchok, seeking a siman by which he would identify the correct girl. Hakadosh Baruch Hu answered his tefillos, and he later recounted the events in detail to Lavan and Besuel, demonstrating the remarkable Hashgacha Pratis he had witnessed. The Netziv zt”l explains that the details were so compelling, it was as if they heard the Almighty Himself declaring “This is the shidduch!” and indeed they acknowledged, "מה' יצא הדבר". However, Eliezer mentioned a detail that seems unnecessary. Upon seeing the Heavenly sign, Eliezer bowed down: "ואקד ואשתחוה לה' ואברך את ה'" - “I bowed and prostrated myself before Hashem, and I blessed Hashem.” This expression of gratitude was his personal obligation, not part of the Divine intervention itself. Why did he feel compelled to share this information with Rivkah’s family?
Meforshim explain the posuk, "הודו לה' כי טוב כי לעולם חסדו", that if someone thanks Hashem, He will continue performing kindness for him, "לעולם חסדו". The Ben Ish Chai quotes a segulah from Rav Yehuda HaChassid that one who needs a yeshuah should commit to reciting "נשמת" upon receiving that salvation. Recognizing that everything comes from Hashem is itself a means of receiving His help. When one commits to praising Him, that commitment alone is reason enough for Hashem to answer him. This explains why Eliezer described his bowing. The Hoda’ah is part of the hashgacha. He was saying, “These events happened because I am someone who recognizes Hashem.” Living with Hashem is a different way of life, and when one has a clear recognition of His Creator, that becomes a reason for Hashem to grant him even greater hashgacha pratis.
A brokenhearted woman once came to R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l. Her husband was sick and she spent her days reciting Tehilim, yet the doctors had given up all hope. The Rav advised her to thank Hashem for the days her husband was comfortable, for the excellent staff, and her personal strength. “After Tehilim say Nishmas,” he said. Miraculously, her husband recovered. R’ Shlomo Zalman simply explained, “When you open the gates of gratitude, Hashem opens the gates of chessed."