We find a seemingly similar occurrence with Avraham Avinu and with Bilaam, the wicked prophet. The Torah reports that each of them “arose early in the morning and saddled his donkey.” In Hebrew, the word yachavosh (יחבוש – saddled) is closely related to kibush (כיבוש – to conquer). Likewise, the word chamor (חמור – donkey) resembles chomer (חומר – physicality).
Thus, when Avraham “saddled his donkey” in preparation for the commandment to bind and sacrifice his son Yitzchak (Akeidas Yitzchak), he was conquering his physical drives in service of Hashem. As a result, when he ascended Har HaMoriah to receive prophecy, he left his donkey behind—as if to say, “I am free from the chomer—the grip of desire.”
Contrast this with Bilaam, who arose early to pursue the downfall of others in his pursuit of wealth and honor. In Bilaam’s case, it was the donkey itself who received prophecy—proving itself to be on a higher level than Bilaam! It all came down to preparation and purpose. For this reason, Hashem predicted Bilaam’s downfall with the words: “Their forefather Avraham has already preceded you” (Sanhedrin 105b).
A renowned figure in the old Jewish settlement of Yerushalayim during the First World War was the holy R’ Dovid Zvi Shlomo Biederman zt”l, the Lelover Rebbe. He was revered as a tzaddik among tzaddikim and was the unquestioned leader of Yerushalayim’s Chassidic community. In 5643 (1883), he succeeded his father as Lelover Rebbe and served as head of Kollel Warsaw. His only concern in life was whether he was living up to the expectations of his Creator.
On occasion, the Rebbe would travel to the graves of the Avos, both in Chevron and in Beis Lechem, to daven and pour out his heart on behalf of klal Yisroel. His tefillos were intense, and many people would send their kvitlach with him to intercede on their behalf.
On one such trip, he undertook the arduous, nearly day-long donkey trek to the grave of Mama Rochel, just outside Yerushalayim in Beis Lechem. As Avraham had done, the Rebbe set out early in the morning, right after the netz minyan. The entire journey, he organized the thoughts and tefillos he would say there, so he wouldn’t forget anything important.
When he arrived at Kever Rochel, he was surprised to find he was not alone. A woman with several small children had arrived earlier. She had laid out a blanket, put the youngest down to sleep, and was busy preparing the evening meal.
The Rebbe was incredulous. Did she not realize where she was? Why wasn’t she davening? How could she busy herself with mundane tasks in such a holy place? He approached her and, in a less-than-friendly tone, asked for an explanation.
The weary woman looked up and replied softly, “Rebbe, I would think that our Mama Rochel would be pleased that we are eating and resting here.”
The Rebbe felt suddenly faint. He realized that although he had made this journey for decades, he had never truly understood what Kever Rochel represented. This unlearned woman possessed a profound grasp of the kedushah of Rochel Imeinu and her tomb. What had he been doing here all those years?
He now understood that Rochel is the mother who weeps and prays for her children. Her greatest desire is that her children have relief, comfort, and peace of mind to better serve Hashem. The journey to her grave is not just about prayer—it is about connection, healing, and comfort.
From that day on, whenever the Rebbe visited Kever Rochel, he made extra preparations—bringing along a meal to share with the others who came to entreat Mama Rochel to intercede and bring their tefillos on high.
Rabbi Dovid Hoffman is the author of the popular “Torah Tavlin” book series, filled with stories, wit and hundreds of divrei Torah, including the brand new “Torah Tavlin Yamim Noraim” in stores everywhere. You’ll love this popular series. Also look for his book, “Heroes of Spirit,” containing one hundred fascinating stories on the Holocaust. They are fantastic gifts, available in all Judaica bookstores and online at http://israelbookshoppublications.com. To receive Rabbi Hoffman’s weekly “Torah Tavlin” sheet on the parsha, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.