Eliezer introduced himself to Rivka’s family by saying “I am
Avraham’s servant.” [Genesis 24:34]
Rabbi Macy Gordon
comments that whom or what a person serves is an important aspect of defining
that person. Rabbi Gordon relates the story of one of his students who added
the abbreviation ayin hei after signing his name. Since ayin hei
normally stands for alav hashalom (peace upon him) and refers to one who
is no longer living, Rabbi Gordon was most curious as to his student’s choice
of signature. The student explained that in this instance, ayin hei stands
for eved haShem (the servant of God)!
Indeed we have much to learn from Eliezer, servant of
Avraham.
The great Or haḤayyim (Rabbi Hayyim ben Attar, 1696–1743)
signed the introduction to his commentary on Ḥumash: “servant of God,
servant of Torah, servant of Israel.”
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