Sruly Schnair

“And Yitzchak was comforted for his mother.” (24:67)

The Torah implies that Rivkah filled the void which the death of his mother had created in Yitzchak’s life. Chazal explain that the blessings which were conferred upon Avraham Avinu’s home, and the pious customs which distinguished it, ceased when Sarah died. These were restored when Yitzchak brought Rivkah into his parents’ home. In this regard, we may note two things from the Torah and Chazal. First, only Yitzchak was comforted for his mother by Rivkah’s presence. Despite the apparent return to normal functioning in his home, Avraham Avinu was still bereft of his eishes ne’urim, the wife of his…

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Sruly Schnair In Chayei Sarah, 5756

“And I asked her and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’… and I put … and the bracelets on her hands.” (24:47)

Eliezer set out on his journey to find a suitable wife for Yitzchak. His trust in Hashem was so strong that he implored Him to give him a clear sign indicating the worthy girl. No sooner had he completed his request of Hashem than Rivkah entered the scene and demonstrated the very sign that Eliezer had asked of Hashem. Secure in his belief that she was the right girl, Eliezer did not ask to discuss her family background. Rather, he proceeded to bestow upon her the jewelry that had been set aside for Yitzchak’s kallah. Only afterwards did Eliezer question…

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Sruly Schnair In Chayei Sarah, 5756

“And Sarah’s life was one hundred years and twenty years and seven years.” (23:1)

The Midrash cites an ambiguous statement attributed to Rabbi Akiva. Noticing his students dozing during a lesson, he asked, “How did Esther come to rule over 127 provinces? Let the ‘daughter’ of Sarah who lived 127 years come and rule over 127 provinces!” Obviously, the profound message of this statement was meant to arouse his sleepy audience. What was the underlying message? The Chidushei Ha’Rim explains that Rabbi Akiva wished to teach his students the value of time. Esther Ha’malkah merited to reign over an entire province for each year during which her ancestor, Sarah, devoted herself to spiritual endeavor….

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Sruly Schnair In Chayei Sarah, 5756

“And Sarah’s life was one hundred years and twenty years and seven years the years of Sarah’s life.” (23:1)

The final phrase of this pasuk, “the years of Sarah’s life,” seems superfluous. The commentators suggest a number of explanations for this apparent redundancy. Horav Yaakov Kamenetzky, z.l., offers a novel explanation which is noteworthy. The Midrash states that the Satan frightened Sarah to death with images of the Akeidah. The shock of the sacrifice of her only child was too much for this elderly mother to bear. The Midrash seems to imply that Sarah would have continued to live had she remained unaware of the Akeidah. This, however, would have been a great chillul Hashem, desecration of Hashem’s Name,…

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Sruly Schnair In Vayeira, 5756

“And Avraham returned to his young men.” (22:19)

The Midrash notes that Yitzchak’s name is not mentioned in the description of Avraham’s return. Chazal explain that Avraham dispatched Yitzchak to the Yeshivah of Shem and Ever to study Torah. He said, “All I have accomplished, all of the wonderful things that have occurred, are only the result of my endeavors in the area of Torah and mitzvos. I, therefore, want my son to devote his life to Torah, so that Torah will remain with my descendants.” The Midrash compares this to a woman who became wealthy as a result of a certain spindle she owned which made very…

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Sruly Schnair In Vayeira, 5756

“And she (Sarah) said to Avraham, ‘Drive out the slave-woman with her son, for the son of that slave woman shall not inherit with my son, with Yitzchak …’ And Hashem said to Avraham, ‘Whatever Sarah tells you, heed her voice.” (21:10,12)

It seems unusual that a tzaddeikes such as Sarah Imeinu would be so “mercenary” as to fear Yishmael’s inheriting Avraham’s possessions. Undoubtedly, as Rashi states, she was concerned about Yishmael’s evil influence over Yitzchak. Nonetheless, what is the meaning of Sarah’s statement, “For the son of that slave-woman shall not inherit with my son”? Horav Elyakim Schlesinger, Shlita, explains that as long as Yitzchak and Yishmael’s relationship did not involve monetary dealings, Sarah did not fear any harmful persuasion from Yishmael. Once they would begin sharing an inheritance, however, this distinction would have slowly diminished. Suddenly, Yitzchak would have been…

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Sruly Schnair In Vayeira, 5756

“And they made their father (Lot) drink wine on that night and the first-born went in and lay with her father.” (19:33)

Rashi notes that regarding the younger sister, the Torah simply states, “And she lay with him, the younger (sister).” He explains that the younger sister did not initiate the immoral and forbidden act, but was rather “taught” by her older sister. The Torah, therefore, is lenient in not specifying her act. The repulsive act of the first-born sister, however, who also initiated it, is explicitly noted. The Talmud in Bava Kama 38b seems to imply the opposite of what Rashi is suggesting. The Talmud states that one should make mitzvah performance his greatest priority. Since the older daughter preceded her…

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Sruly Schnair In Vayeira, 5756

“He took cream and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed these before them.” (18:8)

Rashi explains that Avraham did not serve any bread, since Sarah had become a niddah, ritually unclean on that day. Therefore, her dough was considered to be tamei, unclean. The Talmud in Bava Metzia 87a states that Avraham Avinu was careful to eat chullin, unconsecrated food, only if it was ritually clean. Consequently, he would not give the bread that had become contaminated to his three guests. We may question the approach which caused Avraham to be so exacting with his guests. After all, according to halacha one may eat chullin that is tamei. Avraham Avinu had accepted upon himself…

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Sruly Schnair In Lech Lecha, 5756

“And Hashem said, ‘Nevertheless, your wife Sarah will bear you a son and you should name him Yitzchak.'” (17:19)

The name Yitzchak does not mean, “he who laughs,” or “he who rejoices”, it means “he who causes laughter,” who brings a smile to the lips of his parents. Also, the word generally denotes an ironic form of laughter, brought about by something utterly ridiculous or inconceivable. Indeed, the fact that Yitzchak is given his name simply to “commemorate” the laughter his forthcoming birth provoked, is especially significant. Horav S.R. Hirsch, z.l., in raising these issues, comes to the following conclusion. To expect a 100-year-old man and a 90-year-old woman, who had never before had children, to give birth to…

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Sruly Schnair In 5754

“And there came the fugitive and told Avram, the Ivri.” (14:13)

The Radak explains that Avram was called “Ivri,” since he was the descendant of Ever. Presenting an alternative approach, the Midrash contends that he was called Ivri in recognition of his position vis-a-vis the rest of the world. The word “rcg” means “the other side.” This suggests that Avraham was on one side of the moral/spiritual divide, while the rest of the world was on the other side. Although Avraham had many disciples, he remained essentially alone. His beliefs and moral rectitude precluded his integration into the pagan society which reigned at the time. The concept of “being alone” in…

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Back to Home -> Chayei Sarah ->

“And Yitzchak was comforted for his mother.” (24:67)

“And I asked her and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’… and I put … and the bracelets on her hands.” (24:47)

“And Sarah’s life was one hundred years and twenty years and seven years.” (23:1)

“And Sarah’s life was one hundred years and twenty years and seven years the years of Sarah’s life.” (23:1)

“And Avraham returned to his young men.” (22:19)

“And she (Sarah) said to Avraham, ‘Drive out the slave-woman with her son, for the son of that slave woman shall not inherit with my son, with Yitzchak …’ And Hashem said to Avraham, ‘Whatever Sarah tells you, heed her voice.” (21:10,12)

“And they made their father (Lot) drink wine on that night and the first-born went in and lay with her father.” (19:33)

“He took cream and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed these before them.” (18:8)

“And Hashem said, ‘Nevertheless, your wife Sarah will bear you a son and you should name him Yitzchak.'” (17:19)

“And there came the fugitive and told Avram, the Ivri.” (14:13)

YEARS

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