The Orchestrated Chance Encounter Translation is always tricky business, yet sometimes the stakes are even higher than usual. In this week's Torah portion we encounter a word whose translation has far-reaching theological implications. Eliezer, Abraham's loyal servant, was sent back to Charan to find a wife for Isaac. Arriving at the well, he prays to G-d and asks for assistance in his important mission. He says: "O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, please cause to happen to me today, and perform loving kindness with my master, Abraham." The Hebrew word "Hakreh", related to the word "mikreh", usually means "by chance" or "unintentionally". The theological question, of course, is whether there is such a thing as chance, or are events orchestrated intentionally by G-d? In his prayer, Eliezer employs the word "Hakraeh" which means chance. Apparently, some translations did all they could to avoid using the word "chance". Here are a few examples of translations: "Send me good speed this day". "Grant me good fortune this day". "Be present before me". "Arrange for me this day". Other translations prefer a more literal translation, incorporating, or at least allowing, the concept of chance: "let it happen today for me". "make it chance". While more aligned with the literal translation, these translations create a paradox: Eliezer prays that G-d orchestrate a chance encounter; the problem, of course, is that if it would be orchestrated then it would not be by chance. The Hebrew language will help us untangle the confusion. The Hebrew root word for chance, קרה, is phonetically identical to the root word of calling, קרא. What the Hebrew language is teaching us is that what seems to be a chance encounter is, in fact, a calling. For every event that occurs in our life, every circumstance we chance upon, every opportunity and challenge that presents itself in our path, is G-d calling to us to embrace the opportunities and mission within that encounter. This is perhaps one of the most important messages of the Torah, which would explain why the Torah elaborates and repeats every detail of the story of Eliezer. While the words "chance" and "calling" are polar opposites, Hebrew, the holy tongue, and the story of Eliezer insist that they are one and the same. Every event in our lives is indeed a G-dly calling for us to imbue meaning, kindliness, and holiness into what seems a chance encounter.