Lech Lecha #2 2021
Isaac’s Parsha Corner · 2021
On the occasion of the engagement of Benjy Shulman to Ayelet Ehrenkranz on 10/17/2021
“And there was a famine in the land. And Avram went down to Egypt to dwell there because the famine was overwhelming. Upon arriving Avram told Sarah, “I know now that you are beautiful. The Egyptians will see you and will say that you are my wife. Then they will kill me and take you. Please say you are my sister, in order that he will do good things for me and allow me to live on your behalf.” And when Avram came to Egypt the Egyptians saw the woman that she was very beautiful. And the servants of Pharaoh saw her and praised her to Pharaoh and she was taken to the house of Pharaoh. And Avram received many good things on her behalf. And he now had sheep, cattle, donkeys, servants and asses and camels. And G-d struck Pharaoh with great plagues along with his household on account of Sarah the wife of Avram.”
The taking of another man’s wife by a king is a story that is often repeated in the Tanach. The Midrash finds similarities especially between our story and the story of Esther. According to the Midrash, Esther was Mordechai’s wife, and not his daughter. The Midrash describes the 22nd Chapter of Tehilim as referring to Esther in the house of the King Achashverosh:
The Midrash says there were two righteous women in the Bible who were called “Ayelet” a gazelle. One was Esther:
“Lamnazteich all Ayelet Hashachar”, A song for the morning star; this refers to Esther who cried out; “Aylee Aylee Lamah Azavtanee?” “Oh my G-d, why have you abandoned me? Sarah was taken into the house of Pharaoh for just one night and yet you prevented him from touching her, and here I am night after night with no relief!” Here the poetry in Tehilim is based on the similarity between Aylee Aylee and Ayelet.
The other Ayelet was Deborah the judge (Judges 4:4) as follows:
“Naftali Ayalah shlucha hanosen imrei shafer”- Naftali is a gazelle with a mission who brings good tidings. (Gen 49:21) Jacob blessed his son Naftali calling him “A gazelle”. The Midrash there wonders as to the reference to the female animal as opposed to all other animals referenced by Jacob. The others were male. The lion of Judah, the fox of Benjamin, and the donkey of Issachar were all males and yet Naftali is referred to as an Ayalah (essentially the same as Ayelet) a gazelle. The Midrash explains that the reference here is to Deborah the Judge who was from the tribe of Naftali. Her mission was to lead the nation alongside Barak in order to conquer the Philistines and to sing a most beautiful song. “Imrei shafer” refers to beautiful poetry.
Benjy’s plan was to propose to Ayelet on Sunday morning (after Parshat Lech Lecha). He confessed that there was some unknown force that caused him to propose on erev Shabbat an hour before candle lighting! He said, “I don’t know what got over me but I couldn’t wait to propose so I did.”
I believe that the proposal had to happen before we read the story of Sarah in the house of Pharaoh. We had to read the Midrash which refers to Queen Esther’s (another Ayelet) complaint about Sarah’s good fortune as opposed to her own misfortune.
“To Benjamin he said, the beloved of G-d will hover comfortably over him all the days and dwell between his shoulders.” (Deut. 33:12). The Midrash says, “Six are called Beloved in the Torah; G-d, the land of Israel, the Holy temple, Abraham, Solomon, and Benjamin. Benjamin was beloved because he was without sin. Alternatively he was beloved by his father. After the other brothers moved out Benjamin remained and Jacob leaned on him both physically and figuratively.
Now at this moment Benjamin remains beloved to both his father and to his beloved Ayelet. May they grow together and build a home beloved by G-d in Israel. Mazel Tov.