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Why does the Torah (תורה) interrupt Eliezer's return with Rivka to tell us about Yitzchok's activities? The shiur develops that the pesukim reveal Yitzchok becoming the Av (patriarch) of Klal Yisroel during Avrohom's lifetime—at the moment Avrohom transferred all his wealth to him. This explains why Yitzchok could institute tefillas Mincha, find a wife for Avrohom, and why Rivka was marrying not just a tzaddik but the Av of the nation.
The shiur opens with a textual question: Why does the Torah (תורה) interrupt the narrative of Eliezer returning with Rivka to describe what Yitzchok was doing? The pesukim shift focus from Eliezer's mission to "Vayeilech Yitzchok bam mibeir lachai rai" without any clear break or section end. Moreover, Rashi (רש"י) explains that Yitzchok went to bring Hagar back to be Avrohom's wife—but what is the basis for a son taking responsibility for his father's marriage? This is not a halachic obligation; fathers have a responsibility to marry off their sons, not vice versa. The Torah then continues to tell us Yitzchok went out "lasuach basadeh" which Chazal identify as instituting tefillas Mincha. But Tosfos raises a fundamental question: The Gemara (גמרא) in Yoma states that Mincha is "tzlusa d'Avram" (Avrohom's prayer). How can Yitzchok have instituted Mincha if it was Avrohom's? Rabbeinu Tam answers that after Yitzchok established it, Avrohom also davened Mincha. This answer requires explanation—why would Avrohom need to follow his son's innovation?
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Parshas Chayei Sarah, Bereishis 24:62-63
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