* Translation by Yehoshua Siskin
1. This week’s Torah portion is Chayei Sarah. It’s the fifth parasha in the book of Genesis.
2. The parasha opens with the death of Sarah, the first matriarch, who is buried in the Cave of Machpelah. The cave is purchased by her husband Avraham for four hundred silver shekels. He refuses to receive this land as a gift, establishing ownership over it for him and for his descendants for all time. There is a description of Avraham’s separation from Sarah at her funeral, eulogizing and weeping over her memory.
3. Immediately after Sarah’s passing, Avraham becomes preoccupied with passing on his legacy to the next generation and dispatches Eliezer, his servant, to find a suitable match for his son YItzchak. There is thus a sharp transition from the first funeral to the first wedding in the Torah.
4. Rivkah is chosen as Yitzhak’s bride after demonstrating the quality of lovingkindness. When Eliezer stops to rest by a well, Rivkah rushes to give both him and his camels water. Rivkah’s generous nature proves that she is fitting to be the second matriarch of the nation.
5. The parasha concludes with the death of Avraham when Yitzchak and Rivkah establish their home. In their passing, the first generation of the Jewish nation leaves a rich legacy for the second generation to follow. It’s a legacy that has been passed on from one generation to the next until today.
Shiur in Hebrew:
