B"H

Thursday, Cheshvan 23, 5777 / November 24, 2016

In this week’s Parsha, Chayei Sarah, we read about the passing of the first patriarch and matriarch – Abraham and Sarah.

Q.  How many years did Abraham live after Sarah’s passing?

A.Sarah passed away at the age of 127.  Abraham, who was ten years older than Sarah, passed away at the age of 175.  Thus, Abraham lived 38 years after his wife’s passing.

Q.How old was Yitzchak (Isaac) when his mother Sarah passed away?

A.Sarah was 90 when Yitzchak was born. She passed away at the age of 127. Yitzchak was 37.

Q.Abraham bought the cave of Machpeila in Hebron as the family burial plot. How much did he pay?

A.Four hundred silver shekel.  

Q.Why did he choose that particular cave? Who else is buried in the Me’arat HaMachpeila?

A.Abraham bought that particular cave because Adam & Chava (Eve) were buried there. Abraham & Sarah; Yitzchak & Rivkah; Yaakov & Leah are buried in the Me’arat Hamachpeila.

Q.Did Abraham have a daughter?

A.In this Parsha the Torah tells us, “And Abraham was old and advanced in age [days] and G-d blessed Abraham with everything [bakol].” The Torah uses the expression “Bakol.” According to one opinion in the Talmud, G-d blessed him with a daughter and her name was Bakol.

Q.Why, according to Jewish custom, is a person buried in simple (not fancy) shrouds?

A.The Talmudic sage Rabbi Gamliel instituted that all Jews be buried in the same type of garment to show that rich or poor are equal in the eyes of G-d. Thus, the shrouds (Tachrichim) are made of simple cotton or linen material.

Q.   Why are shrouds made without pockets?

A.   Our sages say, “When a person departs from this world, neither silver nor gold, nor precious stones, nor pearls accompany him. Only the Torah and good deeds one performed during their lifetime, accompany a person into the World-to-Come.” Shrouds are made without pockets to remind us that we do not take any physical possessions with us, only the Torah, mitzvot and good deeds, which become part of us, accompany us into the World-to-Come.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY