Parshat Chayei Sarah

This page is dedicated to categorizing and slightly expanding the blurbs of each article on the parsha. Instead of presenting here per how things were written chronologically (in the order of the years each was written), the goal is to divide in the order of the narrative's subject matter.

Death of Sarah and Purchasing Me'arat HaMachpela

The Number 400 - Evil Eye or Messianic Redemption - the number 400 appears a few times in the Torah and Navi. Is there significance to this number, or is it just coincidental each time it comes up?

Sarah's Death and How They View Dead Jews - In light of a shooting in a Pittsburgh synagogue, this thought was developed to remind people that there are some haters who love us when we are dead. They are very happy to give a place for Jews to be buried. And there are other haters who just cringe at Jewish people, even if they would never kill anyone. Just know what we are dealing with!

Establishing a Rebirth in the Land - Vayakam is the word used to describe the field's moving into Avraham's possession. There are a number of ways to understand that phrase, from the literal to the metaphor. The hope, however, is that the idea of buying land and demonstrating ownership can be respected on the local law level and on the international level - some methods of land ownership are universal, and should be recognized as such. 

Resilience in the Face of Adversity - Avraham faced many challenges, and yet never let his setbacks destroy him. Whether the death of Sarah was most devastating, or perhaps the cost of Me'arat HaMachpela wiped him out financially, he still didn't give up. He worked to marry off his son, and he worked to live the remainder of his life with companionship.

What Do You REALLY think? - The ability to get along with someone or to compromise with someone is very much contingent on the ability to listen and to empathize with someone else's struggle or position. Initially Avraham and Ephron couldn't come to an agreement because they were both not listening.

Assigning the Task of Finding a Wife

Dependence Which Should Lead to Independence - Avraham comes to understand what his mission is after having been dependent on God for his safety and success. In assigning to Eliezer the task of finding a wife for Yitzchak, Avraham's view of his relationship with God becomes clear to him, and thus to us the readers, who are inspired to see where we can take our own relationships with God

Shidduch Criteria - Bigotry or Common Sense? - A number of reasons why Avraham's assignment was for the servant to find a girl from the old country, and NOT from the local girls. It's not just an avoidance of idolatry, or a focus on middos, but the culture of influence that comes from having, in Avraham's case, mechutanim who live close by who are not aligned with his worldview, who might have influence on the raising of his grandchildren... versus if they live hundred of miles away and might never see his grandchildren. 

Rivkah

Ages of Sarah, Yitzchak, Rivkah - How old were these people in the tales in question at the end of Vayera and through Parashat Chayei Sarah. Rivkah's age in particular should challenge some thinking, as the likelihood of her being the age that Rashi suggests (based on the Midrash) is very small.

Meeting the Family

The Human Nature of Human Nature - Lavan's initial reaction, followed by his more thought out reaction, demonstrate that people are sometimes quick to respond without knowing the full picture. Not every situation is life-and-death, and most times a more reasoned method of investigating will go a long way in preventing the kinds of reactions that we might otherwise regret. 

Shidduch Resumes - Rivkah's personality shines through even though her "resume" - her family background - wouldn't pass the snuff test today. Her middos and wisdom carry the day, making her the right candidate to be brought back to marry Yitzchak. 

Meeting Yitzchak

Growing to Love - Yitzchak Married, THEN Loved his Wife - It's not the perceived method that most people think they'll follow, but the reality is that people who decide to marry should have their love for one another grow over time. Their love doesn't reach its pinnacle at their marriage. It is just getting starting, so it can grow over time. 

The Final Chapter of Avraham's Life

Avraham - the Prototype - Avraham is the ideal Jew, or the model Jew. In his life he was first to do a lot of things, but he also contemplated his life to figure out how to make the most of it, and how to live his very best life. That is not defined by where you travel, but what your relationship with God looks like. 

A Time to Rebuild - (Written in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy) - People can lose material possessions, people can lose loved ones, people can lose some relationships. But if there is hope, and there are good people in your life, there is a way to bounce back, rebuild, and return stronger and greater than before. 

Avraham's Last Big Move - A Lesson in Finding Tov (Good) in Life - After securing a wife for Yitzchak, Avraham made sure that he would be able to have simcha in his own life through marrying again and providing for his later family. 

The Years that Avraham LIVED - Life is not just about getting through every day. It is about seeking out and living the best life possible, maximizing one's potential. Avraham did that - which is why the Torah recounts his years, that years אשר חי. He made the most of his time on earth. 

Avraham's Concubines and Their Children - did he have more than one concubine? (Hagar? Keturah?) We are told Keturah had 6 sons, and Avraham gave gifts to the Bnei HaPlilagshim. How many were there? Were they rejected? Were they his biological sons? His step-sons?

Avraham's Children, and daughter? - Avraham is blessed בכל - what does that mean? Did he have more children than Yitzchak and Yishmael? What about the sons of Keturah? Was there a daughter? The answer will surprise you!

Married With Children (for Toldos as well) - This is a summary of a class that I gave at Temple Solel, on education and on raising children based on the model of the forefathers in these parshas. 

Yishmael's End

Inspired By Yishmael - with all the negativity associated with Yishmael, there is much good to be found in the text directly, and through reading between the lines.