The Chutzpah of Eliezer (Chayei Sarah)
This week’s Torah portion, Chayei Sarah, begins not with Sarah’s life but with her passing. “Sarah’s lifetime — the span of Sarah’s life — came to 127 years” (Gen. 23:1). Her death initiates a new chapter for Abraham and Isaac, raising the quintessential Jewish question: What happens next? Abraham, burdened by grief and concern for continuity, takes decisive action to ensure Isaac’s future, sending his trusted servant — presumably Eliezer, though his name is not mentioned — on a sacred mission.
Eliezer’s task is extraordinary. He must journey to Abraham’s homeland to find a wife for Isaac, someone who will share and uphold the covenant. This isn’t matchmaking as we know it. Eliezer isn’t arranging introductions or gauging compatibility; he’s tasked with identifying Isaac’s soulmate. How does he proceed? Before beginning his search, Eliezer does something remarkable: he prays.
Eliezer calls out to God, asking for a clear and specific sign. He prays that the woman destined to marry Isaac will offer water to him and his camels. “Let the maiden to whom I say, ‘Please, lower your jar that I may drink,’ and who replies, ‘Drink, and I will also water your camels’ — let her be the one You have decreed for Your servant Isaac” (Gen. 24:14). His prayer is bold and unambiguous, and it is answered precisely as he hoped. Rebecca appears, demonstrating extraordinary kindness and strength, fulfilling Eliezer’s prayer.
Eliezer’s audacity is striking. He doesn’t whisper a vague wish; he demands a sign from Heaven, calling upon God to show him the way. And God does. This act invites us to reflect on our own prayers. How often do we hesitate to ask for exactly what we need? Do we truly believe our prayers can transform reality?
Eliezer teaches us to pray with chutzpah, with conviction. He models a profound faith not only in God but in the idea that we can help shape the future through our intentions and actions. His story challenges us to imagine: What if we prayed as if we believed the world could change? What if we demanded from Heaven the justice, healing, and wholeness we so desperately seek?
Eliezer’s prayer reminds us that prayer isn’t a passive act. It’s an active engagement with the Divine and with ourselves. It’s not about treating God as a cosmic vending machine — inputting good deeds to receive blessings in return. Instead, it’s about aligning our deepest desires with the sacred and opening our hearts to possibility.
On this day — the 409th day of our sisters and brothers still held hostage — we are called to muster the courage to pray boldly. To shout at Heaven and humans with the power to decide: BRING THEM HOME NOW.
Let us learn from Eliezer. Let us call out with clarity, purpose, and hope. Let us pray as if it truly matters. Because it does. It truly, truly does.