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Home -> 5786 -> Chayei Sarah

ברוך ד' אלוקי אדוני אברהם אשר לא עזב חסדו ואמתו מעם אדוני

Sruly Schnair
In Chayei Sarah, 5786

Blessed is Hashem, the G-d of my master, Avraham, who did not abandon His kindness and truth with my master. (24:27)

Eliezer’s declaration of gratitude concerning the chesed, kindness, he received is understandable.  He arrived in Aram Naharaim for the purpose of finding a wife for Yitzchak Avinu, and he immediately met Rivkah, the perfect candidate.  Where does emes, truth, enter into the equation?  Horav Chaim Mordechai Katz, zl, explains that, indeed, the concept of chesed is complex.  It is possible that a person who offers assistance possesses a kind and generous heart.  It is also possible, however, that this person, despite all his kindness, does not. For example, a person may demonstrate kindness which actually stems from egotism.  This type…

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Home -> 5786 -> Chayei Sarah

ויבא אברהם לספוד לשרה ולבכותה

Sruly Schnair
In Chayei Sarah, 5786

Avraham came to eulogize Sarah and to bewail her. (23:2)

The passing of a great Torah giant is a tragedy that reverberates across time.  It is a loss not only for the present generation, but also weighs heavily on future inspiration: what would have been; who could have grown; the many students who could have been guided and are now lost in his passing.  His teachings, however, his manuscripts and lessons transcribed by his students, keep him alive, as his voice resonates in their ears.  Future generations will benefit. Indeed, the rebbe lives on in the students he created and in the ones who, through his sifsosav dov’evos be’kever, lips…

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Home -> 5786 -> Chayei Sarah

ויהיו חיי שרה ... ותמת שרה בקרית ארבע הוא חברון בארץ כנען

Sruly Schnair
In Chayei Sarah, 5786

Sarah’s lifetime was… Sarah died in Kiryas Arba which is Chevron in the land of Canaan. (23:1,2)

It is safe to say that Avraham Avinu and Sarah Imeinu were the first great Jewish parents.  As such, the manner in which they raised Yitzchak (Avinu) should serve as a guiding light for us.  Every detail of their parenting was rooted in emunah and imbuing that faith into their only son.  The discipline and love were real.  They were not trying to impress anyone.  Their efforts were foundational for setting up the principles upon which we – their descendants—live.  Their sacrifices were unique in that they were the first people of whom Hashem demanded sacrifice.  Thus, they set the…

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Home -> 5785 -> Chayei Sarah

ויתן אברהם את כל אשר לו ליצחק

Sruly Schnair
In Chayei Sarah, 5785

Avraham gave all that was his to Yitzchak. (25:6)

Daas Zekeinim m’Baalei Tosfos wondered how Avraham Avinu bypassed Yishmael and bequeathed all his possessions to Yitzchak Avinu. Yishmael was his son, perhaps one that did not engender much pride in Avraham, but his son nonetheless. Chazal (Kesubos 53A) teaches that one may not give to one child over another-even if the other son is of ill repute, because one does not know what offspring will descend from him. Avraham adhered to the entire Torah; he should have observed the laws of inheritance. They reply that Avraham and Yishmael were gerim, converts. Chazal (Kiddushin 1813) teach that a convert does…

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Home -> 5785 -> Chayei Sarah

ויוסף אברהם

Sruly Schnair
In Chayei Sarah, 5785

Avraham Avinu added, proceeded (25:1)

The Torah informs us that Avraham remarried Hagar. The word Va’yosef, he proceeded, also means that he added. The Sefas Emes interprets this as an allusion that teaches us the importance of tosfos Shabbos, adding on to Shabbos, i.e. beginning Shabbos earlier and extending it past the set time. The Pnei Menachem zl explains that prior to Shabbos (Friday) and after Shabbos (Sunday) there are klipos, “shells” (metaphysical barriers between ourselves and the light of the Creator.) Which represent evil or impure forces. They are the klipah of Yishmael which is on Friday (their day of rest) and the klipah…

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Home -> 5785 -> Chayei Sarah

כי אל ארצי ואל מולדתי תלך ולקחת אשה לבני ליצחק

Sruly Schnair
In Chayei Sarah, 5785

Rather, to my land and to my kindred shall you go and take a wife for my son, for Yitzhak. (24:4)

Harov Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, zl, relates a debate that took place between a modern, progressive thinking Jew and a traditional member of the community. Clearly, a deep contrast existed between the divergent outlooks on Jewish life and living that guided these two men. The forward thinking (as he regarded himself) wondered why, when Eliezer sought a wife for Yitzchak Avinu, a woman who would one day be the next Matriarch, he did not look for yichus, pedigree, nor was he concerned whether she used electricity on Shabbos, (There is a serious debate among the poskim whether one is prohibited from…

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Home -> 5785 -> Chayei Sarah

ויבא אברהם לספד לשרה ולבכתה

Sruly Schnair
In Chayei Sarah, 5785

Avraham came to eulogize Sarah and to bewail her. (23:2)

In his hesped, eulogy, of Horav Meir Chadash zl, Horav Elazar M. Shach, zl, quoted the words of the Midrash, Va’yavo, And Avraham came- Where did he come from? Rabbi Levi said, ‘He came from the grave of his father, Terach, (He had attended to his father’s burial) Rabbi Yosi asks “But Terach died two years before Sarah? (How could you say that he came from Terach’s funeral?) Thus, we must say that he came from Har Ha’Moriah (from Akeidas Yitzchak)”. On the surface there is no way to reconcile these two diverse opinions. Two years is a time difference that cannot…

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Home -> 5784 -> Chayei Sarah

והנה רבקה יוצאת ... וכדה על שכמה ... וירץ העבד לקראתה ויאמר הגמיאיני נא מעט מים מכדך... ותשקהו ... ותכל להשקותו ותאמר גם לגמליך אשאב

Sruly Schnair
In Chayei Sarah, 5784

And suddenly Rivkah was coming out … and her jug upon her shoulder … The servant ran towards her and said, “Let me sip, if you please, a little water from your jug.” And she gave him to drink… When she finished giving him drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels until they have finished drinking.” (24:15,17,18,19)

Eliezer prayed to Hashem that Rivkah should offer drink to both him and his camels. Rivkah did more than offer both man and animal to drink; rather, only when Eliezer finished drinking, did Rivkah say that she would now give his camels to drink. In relating the incident to Lavan and Besuel, however, Eliezer did not underscore the fact that Rivkah distinguished between man and animal. Instead, he simply informed them that Rivkah was thoughtful and pleasing in that she not only gave him to drink, but she also quenched the thirst of his camels. Despite her murky roots, Rivkah…

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Home -> 5784 -> Chayei Sarah

ותמלא כדה ותעל

Sruly Schnair
In Chayei Sarah, 5784

She filled her jug and ascended. (24:16)

Chazal interpret the “ascent” of this pasuk as a reference, not to Rivkah, but to the water – the water rose up to “meet” her. Her virtue was so great that a miracle occurred when she came to the well. Eliezer saw the water rise up to Rivkah – a miracle which clearly manifested her elevated spiritual plateau. Miracles do not occur for someone who is undeserving. If so, why did Eliezer require a sign that demonstrated that she excelled in the middah, attribute, of chesed, lovingkindness. Apparently (as expounded by the commentators), miracles do not define a person’s character….

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Home -> 5784 -> Chayei Sarah

וישקל אברהם לעפרון ... ארבע מאות שקל ...ואחרי כן קבר אברהם את שרה אשתו

Sruly Schnair
In Chayei Sarah, 5784

And Avraham weighed out to Ephron… four hundred silver shekel …and afterwards Avraham buried Sarah his wife. (23:16,19)

Chazal (Pirkei Avos 5:3) state that Avraham Avinu withstood – and emerged successful from – the trials/challenges (to his faith) with which Hashem tested him. This indicates the greatness and deep-rooted faith which our first Patriarch manifested. In his commentary to Avos, Rabbeinu Yonah delineates the ten nisyonos, trials, in ascending order of conviction demonstrated. He places the Akeidas Yitzchak, Binding of Yitzchak (when Avraham Avinu was prepared to slaughter his son to fulfill Hashem’s command), as number nine, with (the travail surrounding) the selecting a gravesite and burying his beloved wife, Sarah Imeinu, as number ten. How are we…

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