B"H
Monday, Mar-Cheshvan 22, 5781 / November 9, 2020
This week’s Parsha, Chayei Sarah, begins with Sarah's passing at the age of 127.
Her husband, Abraham, purchases the Me’arat Hamachpeila (double cave), in the city of Hebron from Ephron. When Ephron declares that he will give it to Abraham as a gift, Abraham refuses to accept. Abraham ends up paying the large sum of four hundred pure silver shekel for the plot and buries his beloved wife, Sarah, in the Me’arat Hamachpeila.
To this day, the Me’arat Hamachpeila, the burial place of our Patriarchs and Matriarchs, in Hebron is visited by Jews to pray at this holy site.
The Parsha begins, "And the life of Sarah was a hundred years, and twenty years and seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah."
Q. The Torah says that Sarah lived, “A hundred years, and twenty years and seven years.” Why doesn’t the Torah say, “One hundred and twenty seven years?”
A. Our sages say, “This is to teach us that each of these numbers identifies a special quality in Sarah. At the age of 100 she was like age 20 in her piety; and at 20 she was like age seven in beauty.” Sarah’s piety and beauty were to the very last day of her life at 127.
Q. "These were the years of the life of Sarah." These words seem to be repetitious.
A. The Torah commentator Ohr Hachayim explains: The fact that the Parsha begins with the passing of Sarah immediately after the story of Abraham bringing Yitzchak to the altar, tells us that Sarah's death at 127 resulted from her great shock when she heard that G-d commanded her husband to bring their only son Yitzchak as a sacrifice. Although in the end it was only a test, nevertheless, the initial shock that it may happen and then the great joy that it didn’t happen, brought about her passing.
For this reason, says the Ohr Hachayim, the Torah adds, "These were the years of the life of Sarah." Although it may seem that she didn't live as long as she could have, the Torah tells us that, in truth, these were the years that were allocated to her in the first place.
There is an important lesson here. When a loved one, G-d forbid, passes away, the reaction of the family may be, "Had we seen another doctor or done something else, it wouldn't have happened." There is a feeling that perhaps we could have changed the results. Or in the case of an accident, G-d forbid, one may think that had they chosen to be elsewhere, the person would still be alive, etc.” Thus, the Torah teaches us, A person must not think this way. One should accept G-d's ways. For in the end, "These were the years of the life of Sarah." This is the way G-d planned it all along.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Tuesday, Mar-Cheshvan 23, 5781 / November 10, 2020
This week’s Parsha, Chayei Sarah, begins with the passing of Sarah. This happened right after G-d tested Abraham by commanding him to sacrifice his son Isaac (Yitzchak), Sarah’s only child. Although only a test, it had a profound effect on Sarah and she passed away.
The Parsha tells how Abraham sends his trusted servant, Eliezer, to find a wife for Isaac. The Torah relates in great detail how Rivkah was chosen to be a wife for Isaac. The Parsha tells about the passing of Abraham and ends with the passing of Abraham’s son, Ishmael.
Q. How old was Sarah at the time of her passing? How old was Abraham when Sarah passed away?
A. Sarah was 127. Abraham was ten years older than Sarah, thus he was 137.
Q. Was Abraham related to Sarah before their marriage?
A. Yes. Sarah was Abraham’s niece (his brother’s daughter).
Q. How old was Isaac at the time of the Akeida (when he was brought as a potential sacrifice)?
A. Isaac was thirty seven. Thus, the test of the Akeida was as much a test for Isaac as for Abraham.
Q. How long did Abraham live?
A. 175 years. Abraham should have lived until 180. But because G-d promissed him that he will live to a good old age, G-d took him five years ealier, so he wouldn’t see his grandson, Esau’s, wickedness.
Q. How long did Yishmael live?
A. One hundred and thirty seven years.
Q. How long did Isaac live?
A. Isaac lived 180 years. Isaac lived the longest of the three patriarchs.
Q. In addition to Yishmael and Isaac did Abraham have any other children?
A. The Parsha tells us that after Sarah’s passing, Abraham took a wife, Keturah (some say it was Hagar), and had six sons. In total Abraham had eight sons. However, G-d told Abraham that His promise that from your seed will be a great nation, was intended for his son from Sarah, Isaac.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Thursday, Mar-Cheshvan 25, 5781 / November 12, 2020
In this week’s Parsha, Chayei Sarah, after describing how Abraham purchased the burial plot and buried his wife, Sarah, the Torah tells us how Abraham went about to find a wife for his son, Isaac.
Abraham calls his trusted servant, Eliezer, and tells him, “Go to my country and to my family and take a wife for my son Yitzchak (Isaac)." Eliezer took 10 camels loaded with goods and went to Abraham's birth-place, Aram-Naharaim. He stopped at a well when the women go out to draw water.
Not knowing anyone there, Eliezer devised a test to determine which girl would be suitable for Yitzchak and prayed to G-d for success. "I will stand by the well, let it come to pass that the girl to whom I say, 'Lower your pitcher so that I may drink' and she will answer, 'Drink and I will give your camels to drink too,' she will be the one You have chosen for Yitzchak."
The Torah continues: "Before he finished praying, Rivkah came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. Eliezer ran to meet her and said, 'Give me a little water to drink from your pitcher.' She replied, 'Drink, my lord,’ and she hastened and let down her pitcher upon her hand and gave him to drink. Then she said, 'Also for your camels I will draw until they have finished drinking.'"
Eliezer gave her gifts and after obtaining her family's permission, he took Rivkah back with him to Yitzchak. When Yitzchak met Rivkah, "Yitzchak brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and she became his wife; and he loved her and Yitzchak was comforted for his mother."
Matches are made in heaven. Our sages say, "Forty days before the formation of a child it is announced in heaven that the daughter of this one will marry this one." Although matches are made in heaven, we have to do our part, as the saying goes, "G-d helps those who help themselves."
Q. Why did Eliezer devise this kind of a test to know whom to choose for a wife for Yitzchak?
A. Abraham and Sarah were known for their kindness and generosity. Their home was open to everyone. Eliezer knew that the most important quality Yitzchak would be looking for in a wife would be generosity and kindness. Thus, he devised a sign in which the girl would be extremely generous and offer more than was asked of her.
This story is told in the Torah in great detail. It teaches us the true foundation for a successful marriage and building a Jewish home. Eliezer's greatest concern was that Yitzchak's wife should be kind and generous. He knew that if she had these qualities, the rest would fall into place.
Our sages say, "The world stands on three foundations: The study of Torah; The service of G-d; Acts of kindness." So too, the foundation of a Jew's personal world (i.e. the home) must be built upon the above three foundations; Torah, the service of G-d, generosity and kindness.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Friday, Mar-Cheshvan 26, 5781 / November 13, 2020
This week’s Parsha, Chayei Sarah, relates in great detail the story of how Abraham’s servant, Eliezer, searches and finds Rivkah as a wife for Yitzchak (Isaac).
Q. What is the origin of the custom to cover the bride’s face with a veil at the Chupah (canopy)?
A. In this week’s Parsha, the Torah relates that when Eliezer brought Rivkah back with him as a wife for Yitzchak and she first saw her future husband, “She took her veil and covered herself.” This is why the bride’s face is covered before entering the marriage ceremony.
Q. Why is the marriage performed under a canopy, called “Chupah”?
A. The Torah states, “Yitzchak brought he [Rivkah] into his mother, Sarah’s, tent and he loved her.” The canopy symbolizes the Jewish home where bridegroom and bride will live and raise their children.
Q. Why do many have the Chupah-canopy outside, or if indoors under an open skylight?
A. To award the couple G-d’s blessing to Abraham, “Your children shall be like the stars of heaven.”
Q. Why is the bridegroom led to the Chupah before the bride?
A. Many of the customs of the wedding ceremony are connected to the Giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, which is compared to a wedding. For then G-d betrothed the Jewish people as his people through the Torah. At Mount Sinai G-d came first and waited for the Jewish people to arrive. Thus, at the wedding ceremony, the groom comes first under the canopy and waits for the bride to arrive.
Q. Why does the wedding ring have to be a plain gold band without precious stones in it?
A. Honesty is most important in a marriage relationship. The precious stones may mislead the bride as to the actual value of the ring. A ring accepted under a mistaken impression would invalidate the legal sanctification for which the ring was intended.
Q. Why is the ring placed on the forefinger of the bride’s right hand?
A. One of the reasons it is placed on the index finger is because it points easily, thus she can readily display the ring for the two witnesses to see.
Q. Why does the bridegroom break a glass at the end of the Chupah ceremony?
A. At the height of the marriage ceremony, we have to remember the destruction of the Holy Temple.
SHABBAT SHALOM
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