Chayei Sarah - Living From The Essence

Why does Avraham send Eliezer to find a wife for Yitzchak in the very place he himself had to leave? And how will Eliezer recognize the girl who can carry Avraham’s story forward?

In this shiur, delivered in Tomer Devorah, Rav Burg explores the remarkable parallels between Avraham and Rivka. Both grow up surrounded by people whose values they refuse to absorb. Both must leave their father’s home. And both express an extraordinary generosity that comes from deep within, even when no one around them is living that way.

Through the Alshich’s understanding of Lech Lecha and Rashi’s explanation of Rivka’s “Eleich,” we discover what it means to live from our essence. We can care deeply about our families and still struggle to move forward until they are ready for us to go. Rivka’s journey asks us to consider how much of our lives we spend waiting for that permission, and what becomes possible when we begin taking responsibility for who Hashem created us to be.

For amazing shiurim from Rav Burg, check out Nitzotzos.com.