Rabbi Chaim Vital Zt”l writes: Although character traits are not included in the 613 commandments, they are the basic determinants in the fulfillment of the mitzvos. Negative character traits are much worse than transgressions themselves, since these character flaws will cause one to continually sin. However, one who possesses positive character traits will readily perform the mitzvos.
When Eliezer was sent to find a suitable mate for Yitzchok, his priority was to evaluate the girl’s character. He prayed to Hashem to make his mission successful. Rivka was chosen as a wife for Yitzchok only after she passed a test designed to ascertain her character.
Rivkah was the daughter of a wicked man, the sister of a wicked man, and came from a place whose population was wicked. She was raised and nurtured in an atmosphere of idolatry. Yet, Eliezer was not concerned with her degree of religious piety or her awareness of Hashem. He was concerned with uncovering only one trait – how complete and perfect her attribute of kindness was. A person is what his character traits are, since one’s character traits determine the extent to which he will be devoted to Hashem and His mitzvos. After Rivkah passed the test, there was no longer any doubt in Eliezer’s mind that this girl would be a fitting wife for Yitzchok.
