Parshat Chayei Sarah
Rabbi Avrohom Gordimer

The Torah records that when Rivkah was brought to Cana'an to meet and marry Yitzchak, Yitzchak was at B'er Lachai Ro'i (24:64). Rashi quotes from Medrash Bereshis Rabbah that Yitzchak was at that site because he was in the process of retrieving Hagar after Sarah's death so that Avrohom and Hagar could wed. The text later notes (25:11) that Yitzchak dwelled in B'er Lachai Ro'i subsequent to Avrohom's death.

Why is Yitzchak associated with B'er Lachai Ro'i? Is there a need for the Torah to emphasize this point?

Kabbalistically, Yitzchak represents the middah (attribute) of Gevurah ("Might"). Gevurah in this sense does not refer to might as a tool to dominate, destroy or intimidate. Rather, it indicates the ability to withhold one's passions and personal desires in the face of great challenge, as Pirkei Avos states, "Who is mighty? He who conquers his (evil) inclination." Yitzchak's might was epitomized at the Akeidah, where he held back and conquered his desire to live in order to become the ultimate offering to Hashem.

This explains why Yitzchak is the one who was charged with bringing Hagar to Avrohom, his father, for marriage. It is normal for a child to resent his parent's new spouse. This is especially true in this case, for Hagar was the mother of Yishmael, Yitzchak's main competitor for carrying on the legacy of Avrohom and receiving his blessings and favor. Hagar was also at odds with Sarah, Yitzchak's mother, after Yishmael was born. An average person in Yitzchak's situation would dislike Hagar in the extreme and be unable to stomach Avrohom's desire to take her as his wife after Sarah's passing.

Yitzchak's middah of Gevurah enabled him to not only tolerate the new state of affairs; on the contrary, Yitzchak was an active participant in bringing it about, even though it would seem to be to his personal detriment. He muzzled or nullified his self-interest in order to do what was best for his father. This is another example of true Gevurah!

This may be why Yitzchak dwelled in B'er Lachai Ro'i, as the locus reinforced his sense of Gevurah, for it was at this site that Hagar and Yishmael were blessed and Hagar was then brought to Avrohom as a wife.

On a deeper level, the Gevurah of Hashem Himself was most revealed at B'er Lachai Ro'i. Rashi (on 21:17) invokes the famous words of Chazal (our sages) that the angels pleaded with God not to save Yishmael when he fell gravely ill at B'er Lachai Ro'i, as Yishmael was destined to persecute the Jews in later generations. God replied that He must judge Yishmael according to his deeds at the time of his illness and not punish him in light of his future misdeeds, which had not yet been committed. This is an ultimate display of Gevurah, for Hashem withheld His might and fury when others would naturally let it all out. This Gevurah was eternally associated with B'er Lachai Ro'i, and that is why Yitzchak dwelled there, to be constantly in its veil and to mimic and internalize the Gevurah of God Himself as manifest at that location.

Let us learn from Yitzchak and overcome our desires in deference to those of Hashem and His Torah.

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