In the discussion between Eliezer and Rivkah, Eliezer asks Rivkah if there is a place to sleep overnight in her father's house. Rivkah replies that there is a place to stay. Rashi explains Rivkah is saying there is a place to stay many nights. When Lavan hears about Eliezer visiting he says "Why should you stand outside?" Onkelos understands the word "makom" as "a kosher place". Meaning there was space and proper conditions to sleep overnight.
Avos D'Rabi Nosson records that just as the early Tzadikkim were pious, so were their animals. The camels of Avraham didn't want to enter a location where there was idolatry as the pasuk says "And I cleared out the house and the place for the camels". The Maharal explains Lavan's words are extra because Rivkah already indicated there was a place to sleep. Lavan is adding that the place is also clean of the tumah of idolatry. The passuk continues about the camels and they wouldn't enter until the house was cleared of all idolatry. They didn't want to be affected by the tumah of the idols.
The safer Avi Mori explains that Onkelos is hinting to this Avos D'Rabi Nosson which brings the story about the donkey of Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa. His donkey was stolen and tied it up in their courtyard. When they placed wheat, barley, and in front of the animal it wouldn't eat or drink. The reason is the donkey didn't want to eat from food that was stolen or was untithed. They decided to let the donkey out of the courtyard. Once outside the donkey found its way to the home of Rabbi Chaanina ben Dosa and began to bray.Rabbi Chanina's son heard the braying and said to his father "That sounds like our donkey". Rabi Chanina says "open the door and let it eat or it will die from starvation." Wheat, barley, and water were placed in front of the donkey which it promptly began to eat and drink. Rabbi Chanina knew the donkey would not eat any food that was prohibited.
This powerful connection between the animals of our forefathers and the donkey of Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa teaches us a profound lesson. Just as these animals naturally recoiled from tumah and prohibited items, we too must develop our spiritual sensitivity. The camels refusing to enter a house of idolatry and the donkey refusing stolen food demonstrate that when one lives a life of genuine kedusha, it affects everything in their sphere – even their possessions and animals reflect their elevated spiritual state.
This lesson particularly resonates in our modern world, where we're constantly surrounded by various forms of spiritual tumah. Just as Rivkah and Lavan needed to emphasize that the place was "kosher" and clear of idolatry, we too must be mindful of creating proper environments for ourselves and our families. The sensitivity demonstrated by these animals wasn't merely a miracle – it was a reflection of their owners' dedication to truth and purity.
The message for us is clear: we should strive to develop such spiritual sensitivity that we naturally recoil from anything that could compromise our neshamos. Whether it's the content we consume, the places we visit, or the company we keep, we should aspire to that level of natural aversion to spiritual impurity that even the animals of our great tzaddikim possessed.
May we merit to learn from this parsha and develop our spiritual sensitivity, creating environments of kedusha in our homes and lives. This has been another episode of mussar haTorah. Join us next week as we continue our journey through the parsha, seeking to grow in our avodas Hashem.
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Have a good Shabbos.
