Chayei Sarah – Page 12 – Peninim on the Torah

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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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,…

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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…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5757

“And Sarah’s lifetime was one hundred years, twenty years and seven years…” (23:1)

The narrative of Sarah’s death follows immediately after the story of Akeidas Yitzchak. Chazal explain that Sarah died as a result of the Akeidah. The Satan told her that Avraham had actually slaughtered their only son, Yitzchak. In response, she cried out in grief and died. The Piazesner Rebbe, zl, offers a fascinating insight into her death. He cites Rav Mendel M’Rimanov, zl, who explains Chazal’s dictum concerning bris, covenant. Chazal refer to bris when discussing yesurim, pain and affliction, as well as when discussing salt. What relationship is there between salt and suffering? He comments that just as salt…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5757

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

The Midrash says that Avraham came directly from Har Ha’Moriah, the scene of the Akeidah. What is the significance of Avraham’s point of origin? Does it make any difference to us from where he came? The commentators respond with various explanations. Horav Aharon Levin, zl, suggests that “Har Ha’moriah” served as the text for Avraham’s eulogy. Throughout her life, Sarah Imeinu excelled in spiritual realms. She was righteous and G-d fearing, kind and noble. She attained a level of prophecy that surpassed even that of Avraham. Yet, all of these attributes do not necessarily dignify Sarah’s essential function in life…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5757

“And the maiden was very fair to look upon, a virgin and no man was on familiar terms with her.” (24:16)

This pasuk is the basis of the Torah’s characterization of the modesty appropriate for a Jewish daughter. Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl, notes that Torah does not say aht vgsh tku “A man does not know her,” as it states in other places, but rather vgsh tk ahtu, a term which does not occur in any other place. This seems to imply that not only was she a virgin in the usual sense, that no man knew her, but she was also so uncommonly modest that no man had dared to become intimately familiar with her. Rivkah’s standard of tznius, modesty,…

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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)

“And Sarah’s lifetime was one hundred years, twenty years and seven years…” (23:1)

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

“And the maiden was very fair to look upon, a virgin and no man was on familiar terms with her.” (24:16)

YEARS

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