Unraveling the First Shidduch: Exploring the Historical Importance of Love, Marriage and Good Character Traits

Sheduchim is a loaded word. For some it strikes fear in their hearts. For others it's an exciting word. It lands differently on different people. But what we all can agree on is that this week, parashah Chaisar is the Parasha of Sheduchim, the first Sheduch ever made, of Ramavino sending his trusty attendant Eliezer to go find the rightful match for his son Yitzchak, and all the different bevy of details that were given about this first Sheduch. They all hold tremendous lessons for us in the way we go about this Parasha. Rabbi Wallerstein once remarked facetiously that if you're ever on a Sheduch date and the water fountains and water coolers are all going off while the girl walks by and the water is coming up to her, so to speak, well then you probably should jump at that Sheduch. It also seems that the Chassidim have the upper hand in Sheduchim, for this was an arranged marriage, kind of like the Chassidim have, and while Avram Avino was setting it up here, when Yaakov Avino went to go find his Sheduch more like a Litvak, as we'll say it ended up with seven years and then another seven years. It was a headache, but that's neither here nor there. But what is important is that after all of the great miracles that happened. They were literally teleporting on the Sheduch, eliezer there, and back water coming up to the girl. Because now, instituting Mincha, and now they finally meet. She falls off the camel and everyone's ready to go ahead with the Sheduch because there's so many miracles. Right, there's a little hiccup Yitzchak's not ready. Avyeh Yitzchak, o'allah, he brings her into the house. Sora Ima, when Okola says Vechazavahosaknin oivdukha, oivdeh sara Ima. And he saw that her actions were virtuous. Like his mother, she had beautiful meadows. And then Vayikachas Drift, godene got married, says the brisker of Miracles. They're wonderful, they're amazing, outstanding, they're awesome, but means nothing for a Sheduch until you see good meadows. Jews, meadows Are everything. Miracles. They're common occurrence, while they are outstanding and fantastic. Good meadows stands at the very central Avoda in our lives. Perfect your own meadows, strive to look for good meadows and others, and like this, we're following the ways. Avraham Yitzchak, yaakov, sara Rivka, rahulna.