In Parshat Lecha Lecha (Breisheet 15:2) we learn about the manager of Avraham’s household: Avraham said: “My master, God, what will You give me since I continue to be childless, and the manager of my household is Eliezer of Damascus (Damesek)?” Onkelos translates the...
According to the Rambam, Laws of Kings 5:9, it is forbidden to leave the Land of Israel and reside abroad aside from these temporary cases: to learn Torah, to find a spouse, to save yourself from the gentiles or to do business. These laws are based on the...
Parshat Chayei Sarah (Breisheet 23:1) begins with the words: The lifetime of Sarah consisted of one hundred years, twenty years and seven years. These were the years of Sarah’s life. The Midrash, Breisheet Rabba 58:4, comments on the number 127: Rabbi Akiva was once...
Avraham sent his servant (known in the midrash as Eliezer) to find a wife for his son, Yitzchak. Eliezer brought gifts with him (Breisheet 24:22):When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold nose ring, weighing half a shekel, and two bracelets for her...
Parshat Chayei Sarah (Breisheet, Chapter 24:1-7) tells the story of how Avraham’s servant helped arrange Yitzchak’s marriage to Rivka. This story was traditionally read at the Aufruf (Shabbat before the wedding in Ashkenazi communities) or the Shabbat...
After Sarah’s death, when Avraham goes to buy a burial plot in Chevron, he tells the sons of Chet (Breisheet 23:4): “I am a foreigner (ger) and a resident (toshav) among you.”Rabbi J. David Bleich points out that the biblical commentators struggle...
In the Torah and Haftara readings for Parshat Chayei Sarah, we see the leaders of the Jewish people living to a ripe old age. Our parsha begins with the death of Sarah at 127 years old (Breisheet 23:1) and ends with the death of Avraham at 175 (Breisheet 25:7). The...
In Memory of Stephanie FuttermanIn Parhsat Chayei Sarah, the word chesed, loving kindness is mentioned many times.As Avraham is getting older, he asks his servant to find a wife for Yitzchak. Avraham’s criterea are that she not be C’naanite, rather...
Sponsored by Judith & Kenneth Sternfeld in memory of Ruth F. Sternfeld z”l. Ruth was a humanitarian, educator and guidance counselor. She was dedicated to family, Judaism, creativity & the arts. Ruth was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother and...
In Parshat Chayei Sarah, Breisheet 24:63 we read: “Yitzchak went to speak (lasuach) in the field towards evening. He raised his eyes and suddenly saw camels approaching.”The Talmud, Brachot 26b teaches that from here we learn that Yitzchak established the...
Sponsored by Sharona, Josh, Dov and Yehuda Halickman in Honor of Moshe Nachshon’s Bar MitzvahAt the beginning of Parshat Chayei Sarah, we see the first purchase in the Torah.In Breisheet 23:9, Avraham says: “Let him (Ephron) give me the Machpela cave,...
In Parshat Chayei Sarah we read about Avraham buying Maarat HaMachpela (The Cave of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs) in Chevron.Why did Avraham need to buy land to bury Sarah (and eventually the other patriarchs and matriarchs) when God promised Avraham that the entire...
Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Sharona’s Bat Mitzvah At the end of Parshat Chayei Sarah (Breisheet 25:1-2) we read: “Avraham again took a wife. Her name was Ketura. She bore him Zimron, Yokshon, Medan, Midian, Yishbok and Shuach.” In...
www.toratreva.org Parsha Points- Chayei Sarah 5774 Sponsored by Bubbie and Zadie Halickman in Honor of Dov Halickman’s 14th Birthday and the First Anniversary of his Bar Mitzvah. Mazal Tov! Many Women Keep Their Age a Secret Parshat Chayei...
Avraham passes away near the end of Parshat Chayei Sarah at the age of 175. In Breisheet 25:8-9 we read: “Avraham expired and died in a good old age (seiva tova), old and satisfied, and he was gathered to his people. His sons, Yitzchak and Yishmael buried...
In Parshat Chaye Sara we read that Avraham’s servant gave Rivka a gold nose ring (nezem) and two gold bracelets when he first met her. Are body piercings permitted in Jewish law? Since we are created in the image of God it would make sense...
In Parshat Chayei Sarah, we see the importance of the city of Chevron, the city where our forefathers and foremothers are buried. Chevron was not only important in the days of the Patriarchs. When the Meraglim (spies) went to check out the Land of Israel in...
In Parshat Chayei Sarah we read about Avraham's purchase of Ma'arat Hamachpela, The Cave of the Patriarchs in Chevron. Although Avraham was offered the land for free, he insisted on paying.Rabbi Yudan bar Simon in Breisheet Raba comments: This is one of the three...
In Parshat Chayei Sarah, after the account of Sarah's death and burial, we read (Breisheet 24:1) "Avraham was old, advanced in days and God blessed Avraham .bakol' with all things."According to Rashi, the gimatriya (numerical equivalent) of bakol (52) and the...
Parshat Chayei Sarah begins with the story of Sarah’s death and Avraham’s quest to buy a plot of land where he can bury her.Why does Avraham choose Ma’arat HaMachpelah (the Cave of the Patriarchs)?Pirkei D’Rebi Eliezer explains: In Parshat...