Thursday, Mar-Cheshvan 20, 5778 / November 9 2017

Our sages say that “Righteous people even after their death are still alive, whereas wicked people even when alive are considered dead.”

The reason this week’s Parsha is called, Chayei Sarah, which means, “life of Sarah,” although it begins with Sarah’s passing, is because Sarah was a righteous woman and her legacy lived on even after her passing.

One of her special character traits was that she accepted all her challenges in good faith and believed that everything was for the good. It is a lesson and legacy she left for her descendents for all generations.

Another reason that the Parsha is called “Chayei Sarah,” is because in this Parsha we also read about the marriage of her only son, Yitzchak to Rivkah. When Rivkah married Yitzchak, she continued Sarah’s legacy and way of life. Thus, there was continuity to Sarah’s life through Yitzchak and Rivkah.

Many of the wedding traditions are rooted in the Biblical stories found in the Torah.

Q.  Why according to Jewish tradition, is the bride's face covered with the veil before the Chupah.

A.This custom is found in this week's Parsha.  The Torah tells us that when Rivkah met her future husband, Yitzchak, for the first time, "She took the veil and she covered herself" (Gen. 24:65).

Q.  Why is the groom led to the Chupah (canopy where the ceremony is performed) before the bride?

A.  Adam and Eve (Chava), the first man and woman, were also the first married couple. The Torah tells us that when G-d created Eve, “He brought her to Adam." Just like Eve was brought to Adam, so too, the bride is brought to the groom.

Also, the giving of the Torah was like a marriage between G-d and the Jewish people. G-d is the groom and the people of Israel, the bride. According to Scriptures, G-d came to Mount Sinai first, before the people of Israel arrived. Similarly, the groom arrives first at the wedding ceremony.

Q.  Why is it customary that the bride's family presents the groom with a Talit?

A.The Talit has four corners, with eight strings on each corner. In total, the Talit has 32 strings (4X8=32). "Heart" in Hebrew is "Lev," which has the numerical value of 32. The Talit expresses the blessing that the couple's life be filled with love for each other.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY