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Why did the Torah (תורה) change Hagar's name to Ketura after Avrohom remarried her? The shiur develops a profound yesod about motherhood: a mother's role is not to validate bad behavior, but to identify and channel the underlying good qualities that generate it. Like the mother who cleans up after her child in the king's palace to preserve his sense of awe, Hagar became "Ketura"—like the sweet-smelling incense—by validating Yishmael's positive qualities despite his terrible actions.
Rabbi Zweig addresses a fundamental question in chinuch: how should parents respond when children exhibit terrible behavior? The question arises from Parshas Chayei Sarah, where after Sarah's death, Avrohom remarries Hagar—but the Torah (תורה) now calls her "Ketura." Rashi (רש"י) explains she was called Ketura "because her deeds were beautiful like ketoret (incense)." This name change demands explanation: why not simply call her Hagar? To understand this, Rabbi Zweig returns to the previous parsha where Sarah demands that Avrohom send away Hagar and Yishmael. Rashi explains that Yishmael was engaged in idolatry, adultery, and attempting to murder Yitzchok over the inheritance. Sarah sees Hagar as part of the problem—validating Yishmael's terrible behavior. Yet when Hashem (ה׳) tells Avrohom to listen to Sarah, He adds a crucial detail: "The son of the maid will also become a nation." Why emphasize "son of the maid" rather than "your son"? This indicates that Hagar herself will be instrumental in Yishmael's transformation into a great nation. What was originally perceived as the problem (Hagar's influence) becomes part of the solution.
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Bereishis 25:1 (Parshas Chayei Sarah)
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