Eliezer rose to new heights when he accepted his mission. (See An Appreciation of Eliezer) He was lifted into a new reality and was able to travel long distances in just moments. He tasted his own experience of the Infinite, not as an observer of Abraham, but as himself. He knew that God was guiding him. Abraham had promised that an angel would assist him in fulfilling his mission. Yet, he prayed for God’s help, and, even more remarkably, used his own judgment rather than simply rely on his special help.

Eliezer determined on his own that the proper wife for Isaac would practice Chesed – kindness – almost equal to Abraham’s. “With her I will know that you did kindness with my master Abraham.”

Eliezer determined that there was only one thing that could prove God’s kindness to his master. Abraham was wealthy, powerful, honored, and had a son when he was 100 years old. None of that would convince Eliezer that God had done kindness to Abraham.

He decided for which qualities to look and he decided that his success would be the only absolute proof of God’s kindness. His magical journey was not enough, nor was the presence of an angel at his side. How did Eliezer know?

He was convinced that Chesed can be qualified as successful only if it led to more Chesed in the future. Eliezer determined that all of God’s Chesed to Abraham could only be determined as true if Eliezer succeeded in finding a woman who would ensure that Chesed would continue as a primary quality of this family and nation.

We often feel good after performing a kindness. Eliezer reminds us to hesitate before rejoicing in our success: “Wait and see,” says Eliezer, “if your Chesed leads to more. Only then will you know that your kindness was successful.”

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Learn & discover the Divine prophecies with Rabbi Simcha Weinberg from the holy Torah, Jewish Law, Mysticism, Kabbalah and Jewish Prophecies. The Foundation Stone™ is the ultimate resource for Jews, Judaism, Jewish Education, Jewish Spirituality & the holy Torah.

In the merit of Eliezer Halevi ben Raizel. May the Almighty visit him, as He did Abraham, and bring a complete recovery.

How can young children, who are far away from a sick grandparent, fulfill the Mitzvah of visiting the ill?

Children are often frightened when illness strikes a close relative. They confront mortality and often feel helpless. However, there are many things they can do to fulfill the Mitzvah of Bikkur Cholim:

1. Call regularly and write letters and cards that express the child’s constant love for the sick person.
2. They should ask the person about them. They should not just speak of themselves.
3. They should accept to perform a Mitzvah with extra care in the merit of their sick relative.
4. They should be extra supportive of their parent who is dealing with a sick parent of their own. The Mitzvah of Bikkur Cholim is not only to help the person who is sick: It includes supporting the caregiver so that he feels stronger is caring for his parent.
5. They should convey messages that will offer nachas to the grandparent who is ill.
6. They should be encouraged to use their creativity in fulfilling both Bikkur Cholim and honoring their parent who is dealing with the sick relative.

Parents have a special opportunity to teach their children about Honoring Parents and Bikkur Cholim when there is someone in the family who is ill. It is an opportunity that should not be missed.

Parents should also take time to speak with their children and allow them to express their fears.

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Learn & discover the Divine prophecies with Rabbi Simcha Weinberg from the holy Torah, Jewish Law, Mysticism, Kabbalah and Jewish Prophecies. The Foundation Stone™ is the ultimate resource for Jews, Judaism, Jewish Education, Jewish Spirituality & the holy Torah.

How do the Sages know that God came to visit the ill? Because God did not come to heal Abraham. He sent the angel Raphael for that mission.

Is it possible that God would appear to Abraham and he would not be immediately healed? It seems as if God wanted to separate between His visit to Abraham and the magical healing offered by Raphael.

I spent years in a sick bed, in horrible circumstances, wishing that God would appear. I did not pray for that appearance because I wanted to be healed. I, of course, prayed for healing. But what I really wanted was clarity. I prayed to understand what God was teaching me through my illness.

The Sages are teaching us that when God appeared to Abraham it was not to heal. An appearance was not necessary for a magical cure. God wanted to simply visit and share the moment with Abraham.

When we visit the ill we are tempted to “do” whatever we can to help, and we forget the magic of the simple visit.

People disappear when you are sick for a long time. They are frustrated by their inability to help. They have no idea what the simple visit can do for the person who is stuck in bed. The visitor comes for the person who is sick. The ‘helper’ usually comes for himself.

There is a powerful moment of connection when the visitor says; “I came to see how you are.” It helps more than any medicine. This is why the Sages teach us that God came to visit, not to heal.

Author Info:
Learn & discover the Divine prophecies with Rabbi Simcha Weinberg from the holy Torah, Jewish Law, Mysticism, Kabbalah and Jewish Prophecies. The Foundation Stone™ is the ultimate resource for Jews, Judaism, Jewish Education, Jewish Spirituality & the holy Torah.

I love asking people if they feel that God loves them. Most respond, “Yes!” I then ask the more challenging question: “How do you know?” That’s when it becomes interesting.
I invite you to join me in raising a toast to God, Who made it very clear to me, once again, that He must really love me: I met my son for coffee late last night, and in the course of our conversation he told me that he decided to randomly ask people whether they have ever experienced God in their lives. I felt that God was hugging me. One of the most important goals in my life is for my children to experience God’s Presence in their lives, and my son was speaking to me about feeling God in his life. L’Chaim, God! Thank You.
And, there’s more: My son described his experience of God in his life: He works with severely mentally and physically handicapped children. (He can’t begin to imagine the intensity of my admiration for him.) He spoke of the beauty of the souls of the severely autistic children for whom he cares. There is one young man who is terribly deformed and cannot move. My son spends an hour each day cleaning his young charge and then carefully stretching the boy’s muscles. He is exhausted, soaked with perspiration and aching from spending an hour bent over a hospital bed working with the boy. When the stretching is finished, the boy, who cannot communicate with others, moves his mouth in a tiny smile and sighs with pleasure. “When I see that smile and hear that sigh, I can see the beauty of his soul. I feel that God has given me a gift to be able to bring such joy to someone else. At that moment, I feel God’s involvement in my life.”
My reaction to hearing anyone, but especially a child, describe such an experience, is to lift my glass to God and say, “L’Chaim. Thanks.” I invite you to join me.

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Learn & discover the Divine prophecies with Rabbi Simcha Weinberg from the holy Torah, Jewish Law, Mysticism, Kabbalah and Jewish Prophecies. The Foundation Stone is the ultimate resource for Jews, Judaism, Jewish Education, Jewish Spirituality & the holy Torah.

A WOMAN was flying from Seattle to San Francisco . Unexpectedly, the plane was diverted to Sacramento along the way. The flight attendant explained that there would be a delay, and if the passengers wanted to get off the aircraft the plane would re-board in 50 minutes.
Everybody got off the plane except one lady who was blind. The man had noticed her as he walked by and could tell the lady was blind because her Seeing Eye dog lay quietly underneath the seats in front of her throughout the entire flight.
He could also tell she had flown this very flight before because the pilot approached her, and calling her by name, said, ‘Kathy, we are in Sacramento for almost an hour. Would you like to get off and stretch your legs?’ The blind lady replied, ‘No thanks, but maybe Buddy would like to stretch his legs.’
Picture this:
All the people in the gate area came to a complete standstill when they looked up and saw the pilot walk off the plane with a Seeing Eye dog! The pilot was even wearing sunglasses. People scattered. They not only tried to change planes, but they were trying to change airlines!
True story… Have a great day and remember…
… THINGS AREN’T ALWAYS AS THEY APPEAR.
A DAY WITHOUT LAUGHTER IS A DAY WASTED!!!

We pray for people who are ill in every Amidah, and with countless prayers and psalms. What do we mean when we ask for healing? Do the different definitions change the focus of the prayer?
For example: Isaiah 58:8: “Your healing will speedily sprout.” This image of healing as sprouting can be used for someone who has begun to recover from an illness and we want to acknowledge the sprouting of healing and nurture it further. Perhaps we can use this idea when we describe God in the second blessing of the Amidah as the “Healer of the Ill”. The descriptions of God in this blessing are forms of praise: “You, Who are the healer, as we see that the healing has sprouted, will surely heal those for whom we pray.”
Kings I 18:30: “Elijah repaired the ruined altar of God.” Rashi explains the Hebrew word for repair – Rofeh – as rebuilding. It is often not enough for someone who was seriously ill to be healed. Many lives are destroyed by illness and we pray that the healing will include rebuilding and repair.
The word Rofeh is related to Rafa – to soften. When we visit and care for someone who is ill we can soften the blow of the illness.
I invite you to share your insights into the words for healing with all of us.

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Learn & discover the Divine prophecies with Rabbi Simcha Weinberg from the holy Torah, Jewish Law, Mysticism, Kabbalah and Jewish Prophecies. The Foundation Stone is the ultimate resource for Jews, Judaism, Jewish Education, Jewish Spirituality & the holy Torah.