Shvitzing for a Mitzvah

"And the young girl was very pretty, a virgin untouched by any man. She went down to the well, she filled her jug and came back up." (Gen. 24:16)

Rashi, (v.17) based on the Midrash, (Bereishit Rabba 60:5) comments that Eliezer, the servant of Abraham, noticed a miracle taking place. He saw that the water rose to meet Rebecca and filled her jugs without any need for her assistance. When Eliezer saw that, he was convinced this was the young woman destined to be the wife of Isaac, the son of his master Abraham.

The Ramban posits that the Midrash derived its comment from the fact that the verse omits any mention of her "drawing" the water herself, it only says, "...she filled her jug". Afterwards, in v.20, when Rebecca is watering Eliezer's camels, the Torah writes that she, "...drew water for all his camels".

R Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev asks what is the difference between the first time she went to the well when the water rose to meet her and the second time when she drew the water herself?

He answers that there are deeds which are obligations and those which are discretionary. The first time she went to the well was to bring water for herself and her family. Providing for one's own physical needs is a discretionary activity. Because of her righteousness, a miracle occurred and the water rose to meet her, filling her jug without any effort on her part.

The second time, when she gave water to Eliezer and his pack of camels, was a mitzvah of chesed. As the Sages concluded, "Mitzvot require kavana (intention)". (Berachot 13a) This intention includes not only mindful intention but also the physical effort involved. The more effort one puts into a mitzvah, the more exquisite it is in the eyes of the Creator. By doing so, a Jew shows his desire to fulfill the will of G‑d and that gives Him much pleasure. One's extra effort in mitzvot shows his joy in serving the Creator. Therefore, the second time, when Rebecca wanted to draw water for Eliezer and his camels, G‑d didn't make any miracles, rather let her exert herself in the mitzvah. (A thirsty camel just off a long desert journey can easily drink 150 liters of water [40 gallons] which weighs 150 kilos [330 lbs]. And that's just a drop in the bucket! Rebecca drew water for all ten of Eliezer's camels!)

This physical and mental elbow grease is an integral part of every aspect of one's divine service. It is the difference in a mitzvah. Joy, mindfulness, and passion while doing mitzvot disclose one's true intentions.

[First published in B'Ohel Hatzadikim, Chayei Sarah 5762]