Chayei Sarah – Page 6 – Peninim on the Torah

וישקל אברהם לעפרן את הכסף... ארבע מאות שקל כסף

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5773

And Avraham weighed out to Efron the silver… four hundred Shekalim of silver. (23:16)

Avraham Avinu is confronted with one of the greatest challenges of his life. Perhaps it was not a spiritual challenge as much as it was emotional in nature. His wife- his partner in life- the mother of Yitzchak Avinu, had just died. The Patriarch had to deal with the funeral arrangements. It was not easy. He wanted a specific burial site, one which had already been used by Adam HaRishon and Chavah. He was determined to obtain this specific site. Efron owned it, and he was asking an exorbitant sum of money for its purchase. Avraham paid. No problem. It…

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ואברהם זקן בא בימים וה' ברך את אברהם בכל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5773

Now Avraham was old, well on in his years, and Hashem had blessed him with everything. (24:1)

Avraham Avinu was the mechanech, educator, par-excellence. He taught a pagan world the truth of monotheism. He inspired as he taught, thus serving as the vehicle for promulgating belief in the Creator. As the first educator, he set the standard for excellence in education. His goal was not simply to teach his generation, but to set the parameters and lay down the rules for the most appropriate manner in which to inculcate one’s beliefs in his students. When we study the educational approach of the first Patriarch, we are confronted with two questions which are pointed out by Horav Arye…

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ויקברו אתו יצחק וישמעאל בניו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5773

His sons Yitzchak and Yishmael buried him. (25:9)

Rashi quotes Chazal in the Talmud Bava Basra 16b, who derive from the above pasuk which places Yitzchak before Yishmael that Yishmael repented his ways. The errant son told Yitzchak to precede him. This display of respect is an indicator of Yishmael’s spiritual well-being, resulting from his repentance. Apparently, the fact that Yishmael had come from a distance to attend the funeral was not a strong enough indication that he had changed. It was the fact that he allowed his younger brother, the one who “replaced” him as Avraham Avinu’s “son,” to precede him that serves as a proof of…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5772

“Sarah died in Kiryat Arba…And Avraham came to eulogize Sarah and to bewail her.” (23:2)

In his commentary to Pirkei Avos, Rabbeinu Yona records the Asarah Nisyonos, ten trials, which Avraham Avinu endured and from which he emerged triumphant. He lists the Akeidas Yitzchak as the ninth trial and the burial of Sarah Imeinu as the tenth and most difficult challenge to overcome. Avraham was left alone after having spent the major part of his life with his beloved eishes chayil. His test arose when, upon Sarah’s sudden death, he had a difficult time procuring a burial site for her. Interestingly, in the Talmud Bava Basra 15b, Chazal cite Satan’s “endorsement” of Avraham Avinu’s faith based…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5772

“And take a wife for my son, for Yitzchak.” (24:4)

Sixty-six pesukim are devoted to the search and eventual discovery of a wife for Yitzchak. This clearly underscores the significance of the institution of marriage and clarifies the qualities one should seek in choosing a mate. In response to the overriding importance and often misunderstood nature of this subject, we will cite some ideas and advice from the gedolei Yisrael, Torah leaders, of previous generations. In Choreb, Horav S.R. Hirsch, z.l., speaks to the young man in search of his life’s partner: “When you choose a wife, remember that she is to be your companion in life, in building…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5772

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

That is exactly what happened. Rivkah passed the litmus test for becoming Yitzchak’s wife. She demonstrated that she possessed exemplary character traits. Her act of kindness towards Eliezer and his camels indicated that she was a baalas chesed, kind, sensitive, caring person. We have to ask ourselves: Is this enough to be the wife of Yitzchak, the Olah Temimah, perfect sacrifice? Is chesed all that one needs in order to become the wife of the one who lay still at the Akeidah, willing and ready to forfeit his life because his father was commanded so by Hashem? While chesed…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5772

“Then Lavan and Besuel answered and said, ‘The matter stemmed from Hashem.’” (24:50)

Three words – “mei’Hashem yatza ha’davar,” “the matter stemmed from Hashem.” Even the wicked Lavan and Besuel saw what so many who demonstrate spiritual myopia refuse to acknowledge: Everything comes from Hashem; He is the source of all that occurs. When we take note of what happens around us and how everything has transpired, how the various pieces of the puzzle many of us call life just “seem” to fit together, we will realize that it can only be attributed to Hashem’s guiding Hand. Stories abound which demonstrate the concept of “mei’Hashem yatza ha’davar.” One that is especially intriguing…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5771

Sarah died in Kiryas Arba, which is Chevron in the land of Canaan; and Avraham came to eulogize Sarah and to bewail her. Avraham rose up from the presence of his dead… “Grant me an estate for a burial site with you, that I may bury my dead from before me.” (23:2-4)

These pesukim seem to tell a simple story: Sarah Imeinu had died. Avraham Avinu mourned her passing and sought a burial place, which was the Meoras HaMachpeilah. It seems straightforward. When one peruses the commentators who focus on the esoteric interpretation of the events, however, the story comes alive. Indeed, it is anything but simple. In his inimitable manner, Horav Pinchas Friedman, Shlita, takes us on a journey, viewing the course of events through the lens of Kabbalah. He cites Horav Yehonasan Eybeshutz, zl, in his Tiferes Yehonasan, who posits that the Meoras HaMachpeilah was the resting place for those tzaddikim,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5771

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

In his Sefer Chareidim, Horav Elazar Azkari, zl, writes, “It is a mitzvah to eulogize an adam kasher, a proper, upright man, as it is written, ‘And Avraham came to eulogize Sarah and to bewail her.’” This is part of gemillas chassadim, acts of lovingkindness. While it is the correct and proper thing to do, the sequence of events in the Parshah seems out of order. One would think that the first reaction to hearing the news of someone’s sudden passing would be weeping. Only later, after the emotion of the day has settled, does the mourner eulogize the individual, which appears…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Chayei Sarah, 5771

Avraham rose up from the presence of his dead. (23:3)

Horav Yechezkel Rabinowitz, zl, author of the Knesses Yechezkel and Admor of Radomsk, explains this pasuk homiletically: He cites the Talmudic dictum in Meseches Shabbos 153a, and Pirkei Avos 2:15, “Repent one day before you die.” The Talmud poses the question of whether one knows when he will die – “Therefore, one should repent daily, since he never knows if he will be around the next day. This will generate an entire life filled with teshuvah.” The Radomsker remarked that this is how a Jew should live: Today is the last day of my life. I was allowed to live today,…

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וישקל אברהם לעפרן את הכסף... ארבע מאות שקל כסף

And Avraham weighed out to Efron the silver… four hundred Shekalim of silver. (23:16)

ואברהם זקן בא בימים וה' ברך את אברהם בכל

Now Avraham was old, well on in his years, and Hashem had blessed him with everything. (24:1)

ויקברו אתו יצחק וישמעאל בניו

His sons Yitzchak and Yishmael buried him. (25:9)

“Sarah died in Kiryat Arba…And Avraham came to eulogize Sarah and to bewail her.” (23:2)

“And take a wife for my son, for Yitzchak.” (24:4)

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

“Then Lavan and Besuel answered and said, ‘The matter stemmed from Hashem.’” (24:50)

Sarah died in Kiryas Arba, which is Chevron in the land of Canaan; and Avraham came to eulogize Sarah and to bewail her. Avraham rose up from the presence of his dead… “Grant me an estate for a burial site with you, that I may bury my dead from before me.” (23:2-4)

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

Avraham rose up from the presence of his dead. (23:3)

YEARS

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