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“And Yitzchak and Yishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpeilah.” (25:9)

Rashi states that from this pasuk we derive the idea that Yishmael repented and permitted Yitzchak to precede him in their father’s funeral procession. This statement is puzzling. Why did the Torah wait until the end of Avraham’s life to confirm that Yishmael repented?  We know that thirty-eight years prior to Avraham’s demise, Yishmael was one of the “young men” who accompanied Avraham and Yitzchak to the akeidah. Why is it imperative to acknowledge Yishmael’s teshuvah once again? Horav Shimon Schwab, z.l., offers a profound insight into the teshuvah process which  applies to this situation. Perhaps Yishmael initially repented only…

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“And they said, ‘from Hashem comes the matter.'” (24:50)

This pasuk seems to be the source for the concept that marriages are made in Heaven. Indeed, this idea is reaffirmed in Navi and Kesuvim. In the Midrash, Chazal  question, “From where did this decision come?” The Midrash offers two replies. Some say that the decision emanated from Har Ha’moriah, the scene of the akeidas Yitzchak.  It was at this place that Yitzchak demonstrated the exceptional devotion to Hashem  which merited him the Divine blessing. Others reply that the pasuk is referring to the statement in pasuk 51, “Let her be the wife of your master’s son.” Here the pasuk…

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“And the man took a golden ring of half a shekel (its) weight and two bracelets for her hands, of ten (shekels) of gold was their weight.” (24:22)

In the Midrash, Chazal suggest that this “jewelry” symbolizes a deeper spiritual entity. The golden ring of a half shekel alludes to the machatzis ha’shekel, the half shekel which each Jew gave for the Mishkan ; the two bracelets represent the two luchos which were joined together; and the ten-shekel weight denotes the Aseres Ha’Dibros which were engraved on the luchos.  We must endeavor to understand the underlying message of these pieces of jewelry. Horav Mordechai Rogov z.l., implies that the lessons to be gleaned from the machatzis ha’shekel and the luchos with the Aseres Ha’Dibros underscore the foundations for…

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“And Avraham (was) old, advanced in age, and Hashem blessed Avraham in all things.” (24:1)

Surely the Torah is not apprising us of Avraham’s success in amassing material wealth. The Torah intends to teach us the true meaning of wealth. Success is not measured by quantity, but rather by quality. Everything Avraham Avinu possessed was worthy of blessing. To possess a fortune means nothing if that fortune is not blessed.  Everything that Avraham had was a source of blessing to him.  Why? Horav Moshe Swift z.l. suggests that the answer lies in the fact that Avraham controlled his possessions, rather than the possessions dominating him. He had business dealings with various people; he was even…

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“And the life of Sarah… (these were) the years of the life of Sarah.” (23:1)

Every word of the Torah is replete with profound messages. The pasuk in Tehillim 37:18, “Hashem knows the days of the innocent and their inheritance shall be forever” is interpreted by the Talmud in Bava Basra 58a as referring to the lives of the righteous. Just as the righteous are perfect, so are their days perfectly complete. Sarah Imeinu’s life was the essence of perfection. How can we define a perfectly complete life? Horav Boruch Sorotzkin z.l., explains that before a person is born, his life-span has been pre-determined.  A halachic rule governs the determination. One half day is viewed…

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