Weekly Dvar Torah: Eliezer’s Mission and the Mission of Every Shliach
The story of Eliezer, Avraham’s trusted servant, occupies an unusually large portion of the Torah. The Torah, which is generally sparing with words—even entire laws are sometimes hinted to through a single letter—records this story twice in full detail: first as it happens, and then again when Eliezer repeats it to Rivkah’s family.
The Midrash asks: why this repetition? The Torah is not a storybook, so why dedicate so much space to describing a servant’s journey to find a wife for Yitzchok? The answer carries a profound message—not only about Eliezer’s mission but about our mission as Jews and as the Rebbe’s Shluchim in the world.
The narrative unfolds through four dialogues.
First, Avraham and Eliezer: Avraham instructs his servant, “Go to my family, to Charan, and take a wife for my son Yitzchok.” Eliezer hesitates: “Perhaps the woman will not wish to follow me. Shall I take your son there?” Avraham’s answer is absolute: “Do not take my son back there. G-d, who swore to me saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ will send His angel before you and make your mission successful.”
Avraham’s words radiate calm certainty—success is guaranteed, for G-d Himself will orchestrate events through an angelic emissary.
Then, Eliezer and G-d: When Eliezer reaches Charan, he does not rely on Avraham’s promise alone. Standing by the well, he prays, “Hashem, G-d of my master Avraham, make this mission successful. Let the girl to whom I say, ‘Please give me a little water to drink,’ and who replies, ‘Drink, and I will also give water to your camels,’—let her be the one You have designated for Yitzchok.”
Immediately Rivkah appears, performing exactly as he prayed, and when Eliezer discovers that she is indeed from Avraham’s family, he bows to the ground and thanks Hashem.
Third, Eliezer and Rivkah: His words are simple, his test pure and direct. She responds with warmth, humility, and boundless kindness—the mark of Avraham’s lineage.
Finally, Eliezer and Rivkah’s family: He retells the entire story—word for word—to Besuel and Lavan. They too recognize that this was from G-d: “The matter has come forth from Hashem; we cannot refuse you. Take her and go, and let her be a wife for your master’s son, as Hashem has spoken.”
Again, Eliezer bows to the ground in thanksgiving.
If Avraham had already assured Eliezer that G-d’s angel would ensure success, why did Eliezer still pray?
Here lies the secret of his success. Eliezer embodied Bittul—complete self-nullification. He saw himself not as an independent force, but merely as the servant of Avraham. Because of that humility, he became a perfect vessel for Divine assistance.
But humility alone is not enough. A person must also recognize that success depends entirely on G-d’s help. Therefore Eliezer prayed—because even one who has a Divine guarantee must still turn to G-d in tefillah. This combination—absolute Bittul and heartfelt prayer—opened the channels for success. Even when Lavan and Besuel briefly schemed to interfere, their plans failed, for the angel had already prepared the way.
This is why the Torah records Eliezer’s mission twice. His journey was not a mere errand—it was a prototype of every mission a Jew undertakes in this world. His actions teach us the blueprint for true success: Bittul, Tefillah, and Hakaras Hatov—selflessness, prayer, and gratitude.
But there is a deeper reason the Torah devotes such space to this episode. This was not just a marriage—it was the first Jewish Shidduch, the beginning of the eternal covenant of Am Yisrael.
Out of this union between Yitzchok and Rivkah would come the Jewish nation, the people through whom G-d would reveal His purpose in creation. For that reason, the Torah records every detail twice, showing how Heaven and Earth worked together in perfect harmony to bring it about.
Marriage itself is the fusion of opposites—a man and a woman, body and soul, heaven and earth—creating life itself. This power of creation is a reflection of the Divine. G-d created the physical world not because He desired spirituality—He already had angels for that—but because He wanted the spiritual and the physical to unite.
Every marriage, therefore, reflects the purpose of creation: to merge the G-dly and the mundane, the infinite and the finite. Through Torah and Mitzvos, we transform the physical world into a dwelling place for the Divine. And in marriage, this unity is most visible—two separate beings become one, creating new life. That is why this story, the first Jewish marriage, is told with such detail and love.
When we unite the physical with the spiritual, we fulfill G-d’s deepest desire: to make this world His home.
Later, when the Torah describes Yitzchok’s own story, it says, “These are the generations of Yitzchok, the son of Avraham—Avraham gave birth to Yitzchok.” The repetition seems unnecessary. We already know that Yitzchok was Avraham’s son!
But the Torah is teaching something eternal. Yitzchok carried within him Avraham’s essence—his mission to reveal G-dliness in the world. Every act of Yitzchok’s life flowed from Avraham’s example.
And we see this truth come alive each year at the Kinus HaShluchim, the international conference of the Rebbe’s emissaries. Thousands of men and women—modern-day Eliezers—leave the comfort of their homes to bring Yiddishkeit to every corner of the world. They settle in remote cities and tiny towns, far from Jewish infrastructure, often without Kosher food or schools. Why? Not for wealth, fame, or reward. They go because they remember: Yitzchok is the son of Avraham. Avraham gave birth to Yitzchok.
Every Shliach knows: I am a child of Avraham. Just as Avraham spread G-dliness through kindness, hospitality, and unwavering faith, so too must I continue his mission. Life without purpose is empty; life with a mission is full, rich, and alive.
The story of Eliezer teaches two guiding principles for every Shliach and every Jew with a mission.
1. Total self-nullification to the sender. Eliezer saw himself only as the servant of Avraham. Likewise, a Shliach acts not in his own name but as an emissary of the Rebbe, carrying the Rebbe’s vision to every Jew and every corner of the world.
2. Constant prayer and dependence on G-d. Even with assurance of success, Eliezer prayed. A true Shliach knows that every accomplishment is only through G-d’s help.
When these two forces—Bittul and Tefillah—are combined, success is certain. G-d sends His angel before the Shliach, smoothing the path and ensuring that the mission is fulfilled.
Today, thousands of Shluchim—from Angola to Alaska, from Casablanca to Boise, from Sydney to London—embody this spirit. They are the “foot soldiers” of Avraham and the Rebbe, living lives of sacrifice, joy, and purpose.
They remind us that every Jew is on a mission. Whether or not we carry the official title of Shliach, we are all emissaries of G-d, sent to illuminate our corner of the world with Torah, kindness, and love.
Like Eliezer, we must approach our mission with humility and prayer, trusting that G-d’s angel goes before us. And when we do, we will see the success of our efforts and the fulfillment of the ultimate mission—the revelation of Moshiach, now!
Have a Shabbos of Mission and Purpose,
Gut Shabbos
Rabbi Yosef Katzman
