Chayei Sarah – Page 12 – Peninim on the Torah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5759

And Avraham was old, well on in years. (24:1)

The Midrash distinguishes between ziknah, old age, and ba ba’yamim, getting on in years. They maintain that some people attain ziknah, but do not have their “days.” Others have their yamim, days, but do not have their old age. Avraham Avinu had both; he was well-on in years, and he also achieved ziknah. What is the meaning of this Midrash? How does it apply to Avraham? Horav Mordechai Rogov, zl, explains that ziknah is a reference to the past, to what one learned as a youth, to the Torah and yiraas Shomayim, fear of Heaven, which he has attained. Yamim…

Home -> 5759 -> Chayei Sarah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5759

And Avraham said to his servant, the elder of his household who controlled all that was his…that you not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaani. (24:1,3)

The Torah places great emphasis upon Eliezer’s position in Avraham’s household. Certainly it was a high status position, considering Avraham’s great wealth. Horav M.D. Soloveitchik, Shlita, comments that Avraham Avinu placed incredible trust in Eliezer, appointing him to direct and control all of his material assets. When it involved spiritual pursuits, however, he exacted an oath from him. He did not simply rely upon his proven integrity and devotion. He sought a promise that would bind him to his word. Marriage was a spiritual endeavor for Yitzchak. He and the woman he would marry were to become the progenitors of…

Home -> 5759 -> Chayei Sarah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5759

And Avraham was old, well on in years…and Avraham said to his servant…that you not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaani. (24:1,3)

Nowhere in the Torah is so much space devoted to one incident, as it is to Avraham’s initial command to Eliezer, his servant, followed by the eventual securing of a wife for Yitzchak. Indeed, the Ten Commandments occupy only fourteen pesukim, while the story of Yitzchak and Rivkah take up sixty seven pesukim! We infer from here the overwhelming significance of Jewish continuity. Avraham’s mission in life, together with that of Sarah Imeinu, would die with them if there were to be no one faithful to carry on their legacy. Without a secure family, devoted and committed to the faith…

Home -> 5759 -> Chayei Sarah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5759

Do not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaani in whose land I dwell. (24:37)

Avraham Avinu rejected the Canaani as potential mechutanim, people from whom he was willing to take a wife for Yitzchak, because of their moral degeneracy. While his “family” were idol- worshippers, their iniquity was basically in the intellectual realm. Philosophic sin can be cured without leaving a blemish upon the individual’s character. A lack of morality and ethics affects the entire psyche of the person. Such a person was disqualified from being a mate for Yitzchak. We see that the Torah presents a picture of Lavan and Besuel, Rivkah’s brother and father, Avraham’s “family” who were acceptable for a shidduch…

Home -> 5759 -> Chayei Sarah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5759

And Yitzchak went out to supplicate in the field towards evening. (24:63)

Chazal infer from this pasuk that Yitzchak initiated Tefillas Minchah. The afternoon prayer, Tefillas Minchah, is different from the morning prayer, Tefillas Shacharis, and the evening prayer, Tefillas Arvis. In the morning, a person arises rested after a night’s sleep. He has not yet become involved in the hustle and bustle of his daily endeavor. His thoughts are still peaceful, his emotions are relaxed. He can supplicate Hashem with a relaxed, peaceful frame of mind. He can have the proper kavanah, concentration and intention. Likewise, at the end of the day, regardless of the day’s trials and frustrations, business is…

Home -> 5758 -> Chayei Sarah

Moshe Marcovich In Chayei Sarah, 5758

And Sarah died in Kiryas Arba….And Avraham came to eulogize Sarah and to cry for her. (23:2)

Rashi explains that the narrative regarding Sarah’s death is juxtaposed upon the previous parsha, which relates the story of Akeidas Yitzchak, because her death is intrinsically related to the Akeidah. When she heard the news that her only child was about to be slaughtered, “parchah nishmassah,” her soul “flew out” and she died. We may question why Rashi discusses Sarah’s death and its connection with the Akeidah while commenting on the pasuk which mentions Avraham’s eulogy. He should have raised this issue in the beginning of the parsha, when the Torah says, “And Sarah died.” Second, it is difficult to…

Home -> 5758 -> Chayei Sarah

Moshe Marcovich In Chayei Sarah, 5758

I have given you the field, and as for the cave that is in it, I have given to you….bury your dead. Land worth four hundred silver shekels; between you and I–what is it? Bury your dead. (23:11,15)

What made Efron change his mind so radically? At first, he appeared to be a wonderful, refined gentleman who opened his land to Avraham. He granted him a place in which to bury Sarah without asking any compensation. Suddenly Efron showed a different side to his personality, when he “intimated” that he would be inclined to “give” the property to Avraham for a mere four hundred silver shekels, which constituted an outrageous amount of money. Something must have transpired that catalyzed this sudden change. What was it? Horav Yaakov Neiman, zl, cites the Alter M’Kelm who responds to the question…

Home -> 5758 -> Chayei Sarah

Moshe Marcovich In Chayei Sarah, 5758

Let it be that the maiden to whom I shall say, “Please tip over the jug so I may drink,” and who replies, “Drink, and I will even water your camels,” her will You have designated for Your servant Yitzchak. (24:14)

Eliezer established a criteria for a suitable mate for Yitzchak. He would request of her an act of chesed, kindness. If her response exceeded his request, it would indicate that she was truly a baalas chesed. The wife for Yitzchak, the future Matriarch of Klal Yisrael, must be an individual whose character refinement is innate. Rivkah displayed a level of chesed that was exemplary. We may wonder why her willingness to draw water for the camels was so remarkable that it demonstrated her admirable quality of chesed. What was so special about it? We suggest that the answer lies…

Home -> 5758 -> Chayei Sarah

Moshe Marcovich In Chayei Sarah, 5758

And Avraham said to his servant, the elder of his household who controlled all that was his….And I said to my master,” Perhaps the woman will not follow me?” (24:2, 39)

The Torah tells very little about Eliezer, Avraham’s trusted servant. Who was he? Who was his father? The first indication about his origins is later in the narrative, when Rashi explains the word “hkt”–“ulai,” this word is normally spelled with a “vov” and is translated as “perhaps.” It is now spelled without a “vov” and should really be interpreted as “to me.” Rashi says that Eliezer was alluding to his own daughter whom he had hoped to marry to Yitzchak. Thus, when he asked Avraham what to do if he was not successful in finding the suitable mate for Yitzchak,…

Home -> 5758 -> Chayei Sarah

Moshe Marcovich In Chayei Sarah, 5758

And Avraham expired and died in a good old age, mature and content. (25:8)

The Ramban remarks on Avraham Avinu’s lofty character. He was sameiach b’chelko, satisfied with his lot in life. He was not one to yearn for luxuries. Those who desire luxuries will never be happy with what they attain. If they have a hundred, they desire two hundred; if they have two hundred, they desire four hundred. We are puzzled by the Ramban’s statement. Avraham really did not have a reason to complain. Hashem blessed him with extraordinary wealth and prestige. He miraculously saved his life when he was thrown into the fiery furnace. He was blessed with a son…

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Back to Home -> Chayei Sarah ->

And Avraham was old, well on in years. (24:1)

And Avraham said to his servant, the elder of his household who controlled all that was his…that you not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaani. (24:1,3)

And Avraham was old, well on in years…and Avraham said to his servant…that you not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaani. (24:1,3)

Do not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaani in whose land I dwell. (24:37)

And Yitzchak went out to supplicate in the field towards evening. (24:63)

And Sarah died in Kiryas Arba….And Avraham came to eulogize Sarah and to cry for her. (23:2)

I have given you the field, and as for the cave that is in it, I have given to you….bury your dead. Land worth four hundred silver shekels; between you and I–what is it? Bury your dead. (23:11,15)

Let it be that the maiden to whom I shall say, “Please tip over the jug so I may drink,” and who replies, “Drink, and I will even water your camels,” her will You have designated for Your servant Yitzchak. (24:14)

And Avraham said to his servant, the elder of his household who controlled all that was his….And I said to my master,” Perhaps the woman will not follow me?” (24:2, 39)

And Avraham expired and died in a good old age, mature and content. (25:8)

YEARS

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

You have Successfully Subscribed!