Thought from Yeshiva Simchat Shlomo in Jerusalem: (slightly modified by AE)

 

There is something inside us which tries to convince us to do something not good,

 

but even worse than that, is when after the fact,

 

it tries to convince us that this good thing we accomplished, was really not so good at all. 

 

The Evil Inclination was PUSHING Abraham and TAUNTING Sarah about

 

the "offering of Isaac" test on Mount Moriah - (which they PASSED)

 

to the point where Abraham's story nearly ends this week, 

 

and Sarah's only defense was to "give up the ghost" as it was.

 

We are all being tested all the time (especially by the crazy drivers on the road!)

 

But one way to fight those "why me" attacks is to

 

Believe in yourself and

 

desire to serve HaShem and cause good in the world

 

AND DO MITZVAS EVERY DAY! As many as you can.

 

So what was the big miracle when Abraham sent Eliezer to find a wife for Isaac?

 

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach taught:

 

Rebecca was BUSY but she found TIME to pull up water from the well

 

- for Eliezer AND for the camels!

 

And today every Jew is a MIRACLE - every Mitzva is a miracle -

 

and from the time of Abraham  every Jew is a MIRACLE

 

and every Jew that stands up for the Almighty and for

 

 holiness in the world  is a MIRACLE

 

 

After what the world did - and DID NOT do (like not saving the millions murdered by Hitler and Stalin)

 

Every Jew - from

 

 Pittsberg to "Palestine" where nearly HALF A MILLION JEWS LIVE

 

is a miracle!

 

Rebecca was found to be a perfect miracle and spouse to Isaac

 

and we can all help each other and our children find the right partners

 

So let's help those little miracles keep rolling out ...

 

Shabbat Shalom

 

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz