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Parashat Chayei Sarah “Sarah Lived”

30 October 2010

Genesis 23:1-25:18

1Kings 1:1-31

1 Cor.15:50-57

 Parashah Outline

1. Sarah dies at age 127 and is buried in the Machpeilah Cave in Hebron, which Abraham purchases from Ephron the Hittite for 400 shekels of silver. Bereshit 23:1-20

2. Abraham's servant, Eliezer, is sent laden with gifts to Charan to find a wife for Isaac. At the village well, Eliezer asks G-d for a sign: when the maidens come to the well, he will ask for some water to drink; the woman who will offer to give his camels to drink as well, shall be the one destined for his master's son. Rebecca, the daughter of Abraham's nephew Bethuel, appears at the well and passes the "test". Eliezer is invited to their home, where he repeats the story of the day's events. Rebecca returns with Eliezer to the land of Canaan, where they encounter Isaac praying in the field. Isaac marries Rebecca, loves her, and is comforted over the loss of his mother. Bereshit 24:1-67

3. Abraham takes a new wife, Keturah (possibly Hagar) and father’s six additional sons, but Isaac is designated as his only heir. Abraham dies at age 175 and is buried beside Sarah by his two eldest sons, Isaac and Ishmael. Bereshit 25:1-17

This week’s Torah portion begins with the words, “Now Sarah lived 127 years.” She was the only women named in the Bible whose age is given and burial described. She was a women of faith (Heb.11:11-13), and a princess and mother to us all (1Pet.3:6).The scripture tells us that we have become her children when we do good, and are not frightened by anything alarming.

How do we get to the point of not being frightened and walking in HaShem’s Torah and following His word? Shaul tells in 2 Tim.4:6-8 that we need to recognize that there is a spiritual struggle, but the cause is noble. We need to stay the course. In other words he is telling us to finish the race, fight the good fight, keeping our faith, so we too can look forward to receiving the crown of righteousness.

As Shaul gives testimony of his life as a faithful servant and running the course, he is telling us to be committed, be faithful, having an attitude of triumph not fear, and no regrets.  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” May we all have this attitude that we too can be written in the book as faithful servants.

Shavua Tov

Rabbi Z.

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