"And he said, 'She is my sister'"

Synopsis

Here the discussion explains why Abraham and Isaac replied as above when they were asked about their wives. This episode is linked to the Shechinah, the Divine Presence of Creator in the physical realm. The dual meaning of the word sister is revealed as an allusion to the patriarchs' own connection to the Shechinah, which is the source of human happiness and protection. The Rabbis further discuss the nature and whereabouts of the dwelling place of the Shechinah, which resides both in their wives and in the Holy Land.

Relevance

The Shechinah can only dwell within us, offering protection and fulfillment, when we are in an appreciative and joyful state of mind. The moment a person feels depressed, negative, or victimized, the Shechinah departs. A positive state of mind and appreciation is summoned forth in this passage, thus drawing the Shechinah into our lives. This Light also serves to enrich our marital relationships.

Abraham Chariot Doves Isaac Love Righteous Shechinah Wisdom Zeir Anpin

96. "And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, 'She is my sister" (Beresheet 26:7), that is, just like Abraham said, "SHE IS MY SISTER," REFERRING TO THE SHECHINAH. For the Shechinah was with Isaac and his wife, and he said of the Shechinah, "SHE IS MY SISTER," as it is written, "Say to wisdom, 'you are my sister'" (Mishlei 7:4). Thus, he was strengthened BY THE SHECHINAH and said, "She is my sister." Abraham and Isaac deserved TO SAY OF THE SHECHINAH, "SHE IS MY SISTER." This is assuredly so because of the verse IN WHICH ZEIR ANPIN SAID TO THE SHECHINAH, "My sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled" (Shir Hashirim 5:2). ABRAHAM AND ISAAC WERE A CHARIOT TO ZEIR ANPIN and were therefore worthy, LIKE ZEIR ANPIN, of saying ABOUT THE SHECHINAH, "She is my sister." Thus, the Righteous were strengthened by the Holy One, blessed be He, THAT IS, THEY BECAME A CHARIOT TO HIM.

96. וַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ אַנְשֵׁי הַמָּקוֹם לְאִשְׁתּוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר אֲחוֹתִי הִיא, כְּמָה דַּאֲמַר אַבְרָהָם, בְּגִין דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא הֲוָה עִמֵּיהּ, וְעִם אִתְּתֵיהּ, וּבְגִין שְׁכִינְתָּא קָאֲמַר, דִּכְתִיב אֱמוֹר לַחָכְמָה אֲחוֹתִי אָתְּ, וְעַל דָּא אִתְתַּקַּף, וַאֲמַר אֲחוֹתִי הִיא. תוּ, אַבְרָהָם וְיִצְחָק, הָכֵי אִתְחֲזֵי, דְּוַדַּאי בְּגִין קְרָא דִּכְתִיב אֲחוֹתִי רַעֲיָתִי יוֹנָתִי תַמָּתִי, וּבְגִין כָּך וַדַּאי, אִתְחֲזֵי לוֹן לוֹמַר, אֲחוֹתִי הִיא, וְע"ד אִתְתַּקָּפוּ צַדִּיקַיָיא בֵּיהּ בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא.

Isaac Rebecca Shechinah

97. "And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time...with Rivkah his wife" (Beresheet 26:8). IT IS SAID "with (Heb. et) Rivkah his wife," precisely, which alludes to the Shechinah that was with Rivkah, BECAUSE ET ('WITH'), AS WE KNOW, IS THE NAME OF THE SHECHINAH. Another explanation asks if we could possibly conceive of Isaac performing his marital duties during the daytime. We have learned that the children of Yisrael are holy and abstain from cohabitation in the daytime. Therefore, how could Isaac, who was holy, cohabit during the day?

97. וַיְהִי כִּי אָרְכוּ לוֹ שָׁם הַיָּמִים וגו'. אֶת רִבְקָה אִשְׁתּוֹ דַּיְיקָא, דָּא שְׁכִינְתָּא, דַּהֲוַת עִמָּהּ דְּרִבְקָה. דָּבָר אֲחֵר, וְכִי ס"ד דְּיִצְחָק הֲוָה מְשַׁמֵּשׁ עַרְסֵיהּ בִּימָמָא, דְּהָא תָּנִינָן יִשְׂרָאֵל קַדִּישִׁין אִינוּן, וְלָא מְשַׁמְשֵׁי עַרְסַיְיהוּ בִּימָמָא, וְיִצְחָק דַּהֲוָה קַדִּישׁ הֲוָה מְשַׁמֵּשׁ עַרְסֵיהּ בִּימָמָא.

Abimelech Abraham Astrology Isaac Sisra Stars Windows Wisdom Women

98. HE ANSWERS, Assuredly Abimelech was wise and looked at the wisdom of the stars, that is called a 'window,' as it is written here, "out at a window" (Beresheet 26:8), and elsewhere, "The mother of Sisra looked out at a window" (Shoftim 5:28). As THE WINDOW there REFERS TO astrology, so THE WINDOW here REFERS to astrology. And he saw there that it was not as Isaac said, but that he surely was sporting with her, and she was his wife. Then, "Abimelech called Isaac..." (Beresheet 26:9) Rabbi Yosi said that it would have befitted Abimelech to do this to Isaac AND TAKE HIS WIFE, as he did to Abraham, were it not for the Holy One, blessed be He, who reproved him earlier FOR WHAT HE DID TO ABRAHAM, SAYING "BEHOLD, YOU ARE A DEAD MAN, BECAUSE OF THE WOMAN..." (BERESHEET 20:3).

98. אֶלָּא, וַדַּאי אֲבִימֶלֶךְ חַכִּים הֲוָה, וְאִיהוּ אִסְתַּכַּל בְּאִצְטַגְנִינוּתָא דִילֵיהּ, דְּאִיהוּ חַלּוֹן, כְּתִיב הָכָא בְּעַד הַחַלּוֹן, וּכְתִיב הָתָם בְּעַד הַחַלּוֹן נִשְׁקָפָה וַתְּיַבֵּב אֵם סִיסְרָא, מַה לְּהַלָּן בְּאִצְטַגְנִינוּתָא, אוֹף ה"נ בְּאִצְטַגְנִינוּתָא, וְחָמָא, דְּלָא הֲוָה, כְּמָה דַהֲוָה אֲמַר יִצְחָק, אֶלָּא וַדַּאי אִיהוּ מְצַחֵק עִמָּהּ, וְאִיהִי אִתְּתֵיהּ. וּכְדֵין וַיִּקְרָא אֲבִימֶלֶךְ לְיִצְחָק וַיֹּאמֶר וגו'. רִבִּי יוֹסֵי אֲמַר, יָאוֹת הֲוָה אֲבִימֶלֶךְ לְמֶעְבַּד לְיִצְחָק, כְּמָה דַעֲבַד לְאַבְרָהָם, בַּר דְּהָא אוֹכַח לֵיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּקַדְמֵיתָא.

Faith Fear Shechinah Thought Wisdom

99. Come and behold, it is written, "Because I thought, 'Surely the fear of Elohim is not in this place'" (Beresheet 20:11). According to Rabbi Aba, this is the reason why he said, "She is my sister." He wanted to cleave to the Shechinah, as it is written, "Say to wisdom, [NAMELY, THE SHECHINAH] you are my sister." Why? Because they had no faith in them, for if they had faith, he would not have needed that. But because they had no faith, he said, 'SHE IS MY SISTER.' He therefore said, "Because I thought, 'Surely the fear of Elohim is not in this place." The fear of Elohim is Faith.

99. תָּא חֲזֵי, כְּתִיב כִּי אָמַרְתִּי רַק אֵין יִרְאַת אֱלֹהִים בַּמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה, אֲמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא, בְּג"כ אֲמַר אֲחוֹתִי הִיא, בְּגִין לְאִתְדַּבָּקָא בִּשְׁכִינְתָּא, דִּכְתִיב אֱמוֹר לַחָכְמָה אֲחוֹתִי אָתְּ. מַאי טַעְמָא, בְּגִין דִּבְהוֹ לָא הֲוָה מְהֵימְנוּתָא, דְּאִי מְהֵימְנוּתָא, אִשְׁתַּכַּח בֵּינַיְיהוּ, לָא הֲוָה אִצְטְרִיךְ, אֲבָל מִגּוֹ דְּלָא הֲוָה בֵּינַיְיהוּ מְהֵימְנוּתָא, אֲמַר הָכֵי, וּבְגִין כָּך אֲמַר כִּי אָמַרְתִּי רַק אֵין יִרְאַת אֱלֹהִים בַּמָּקוֹם הַזֶה, אֵין יִרְאַת אֱלֹהִים, דָּא מְהֵימְנוּתָא.

Dwellings Faith Fear Holy Land Isaac Shechinah

100. אֲמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, בְּגִין דְּלָא שַׁרְיָא שְׁכִינְתָּא, לְבַר מֵאַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא, וְעַל דָּא אֵין יִרְאַת אֱלֹהִים בַּמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה, דְּלַאו אַתְרֵיהּ הוּא, וְלָא שַׁרְיָא הָכָא, וְיִצְחָק אִתְתַּקַּף בֵּיהּ בִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא, דְּחָמָא דְהָא שְׁכִינְתָּא גוֹ אִתְּתֵיהּ שַׁרְיָא.