Over the past few parshiot there's been a lot of talk of age and the passage of time. We get the genealogy list that tells how many years someone lived before begetting children and when they died (in a word-formula of "all the days of so-and-so came to X years; then he died.") Also there's much discussion about how advanced in years Avraham and Sarah are for the birth of a child. But in this parsha is the first mention of someone being "old" using the word זָקֵן. It is this
advancement in age that inspires Avraham to take action in finding a wife for his son, Isaac. Rashi teaches that זָקֵן, zaken, can be understood as an acronym for zeh sh'kana hokhma, one who acquired wisdom. It's a lovely way to think of aging (one that used to be the norm, but seems to have lost favor over time.) Through time and experience Avraham has become wise and knows the path that God has set him on and what to do to put Isaac on the right path too. So to help make us all wise, let's have some brain-healthy foods. While there are a lot of opinions about what are the best brain health superfoods, there are a few that seem well accepted as having vitamins and biological eactions that are good for the brain. This Dark Leafy Greens with Caramelized Onions, Raisins, and Maple Walnuts has leafy greens and nuts, both on the list of brain foods.
Eliezer goes on his quest to find a wife for Isaac and after finding Rebecca he gives her a nose ring and arm bands. It appears that she accepts these gifts and it is the beginning of the bethroment process. I appreciate that there are two moments in this process where Rebecca has some
agency, here with the ring and bands and then again when she is asked if she will go with Avraham's servant and she says she will. In honor of the ring Rebecca received and her ability to be part of the process, a hallmark of her character throughout her stories in the Torah, try this carrot ring cake for dessert.
Shabbat Shalom & B'Tayavon!
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