The Secret of the Wells

Yitzchak Avinu was blessed with a remarkably long life — 180 years! Yet, relative to his lifespan, the Torah provides relatively little detail about his life.

One of the few details the Torah does focus on is Yitzchak’s involvement in digging wells, which is described in our Parsha.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains (in his Reshimot) that digging wells connects to Yitzchak’s unique quality — prayer. Why? Because prayer is most effective when preceded by immersion in water (a Mikveh, river, or stream).

Torat Levi Yitzchak further connects Yitzchak and wells of water numerically:

• The name Yitzchak (208) has the same Gematria as בור (well).
• Yitzchak lived 180 years, and when you spell out מים (water) (מ״ם יו״ד מ״ם), the numerical value is 180!