Overview
of the Weekly Reading
To be read on Shabbat Chayei Sara, 25 Cheshvan 5776/Nov.7,
2015
Torah: Genesis 23:1-25:18; Haftorah: Kings I 1:1-31 (because
the first verse is like Gen. 24:1)
Chayei Sara is the 5th Reading out of 12 in Genesis and it contains
5314 letters, in 1402 words, in 105 verses
Sarah died at the age of 127. Avraham bought the Cave
of Machpelah. Avraham sent his servant to look for a wife for his son,
making him swear not to bring back a Canaanite bride. The servant left
for Charan, and arriving at the well, asked G-d to give him a sign.
Rivkah arrived to draw water. The servant asked if he may have some,
and after he drank she drew more water for his camels. The servant spent
the night in her father's house. Her family agreed to let Rivkah marry
Yitzchak. Avraham remarried Keturah, who bore him six sons. Avraham
died at the age of 175, and was buried in the Cave of Machpelah, next
to Sarah. Ishmael had twelve sons, each princes for their nations. He
died at the age of 137. His descendants lived along the border of Egypt
all the way to Assyria.
An
essay from Rabbi
Shaul Yosef Leiter, director of Ascent
(for a free weekly email subscription, click
here)
Under the wedding chupah of one of the daughters of Rabbi
Dovber, (2nd Chabad Rebbe) to the son of the Rebbe Mordechai of Chernobyl,
R’ Mordechai asked the Mittler Rebbe to say a few words of Torah
in honor of the bride and groom. The Rebbe politely refused but asked
that R’ Mordechai speak instead. This is what he said, “There
are 3 times in a person’s life when those around us make a big
fuss. When a person is born (because we are celebrating the beginning
of a life of purpose), when he marries, and when a person is escorted
to the world of truth (a funeral in Hebrew is referred to as ‘escorting’
someone). Understandably, at the time of the first and the third a person
is not arrogant due to all the attention they are receiving. This is
not always the case when a person goes under the chupah. At one’s
wedding there is a risk that a person might feel some pride and haughtiness.
Therefore, a person must know and remember that this event has to be
in one’s eyes like the other two (a journey of purpose). (A bar
mitzvah boy is often referred to as ‘chatan’/bridegroom;
perhaps because the event is both the beginning of the journey of adulthood
and a risk of haughtiness).”
Guarding against arrogance is a pretty somber way of describing a wedding
and in general the purpose of marriage. In one of his talks on this
Torah portion, the Lubavitcher Rebbe describes things a bit differently.
Avraham sending his servant Eliezer on a special and difficult mission
was the first example in the Torah of shlichut, becoming someone’s
emissary. And was the purpose of this most important mission? To find
a proper wife for one of the future forefathers of the Jewish people.
We can also learn a very special lesson in the spiritual mission, our
journey, of each of us. Starting from Adam and Eve the first mission
given to mankind was to “be fruitful and multiply”. To have
children. Children who will not only populate the earth that G-d created
for us but also to make the world a dwelling place for G-d.
This mission exists physically and spiritually. On a spiritual level
each of us also has a mission to bring other Jews a bit closer to Jewish
tradition, to make more ‘children’ for our father in heaven.
This is what the Talmud (Sanhedrin 19b) tells us, “anyone that
teaches the son of a friend Jewish tradition, it is considered as if
he fathered him.”
Just like Avraham sent Eliezer to Charan (Charan mean angry, because
it was devoid of the knowledge of G-d), so also is it the mission of
mankind to go to even unwelcoming places, empty of G-dliness to find
other Jews and bring them closer to serving G-d. When have we succeeded?
When that person also is also able, and actively trying to bring others
closer to our tradition.
This is not limited to giving classes or the like. It can mean keeping
Jewish objects in your home so others can see and ask about them. It
can mean that you join a synagogue (voting with your feet…), it
can be doing an extra something Jewish in your life and bring your family
with you. Through your actions you will also be spreading the word,
and bringing others closer, influencing the world to “be fruitful
and multiply” Jewishly. Shabbat Shalom, Shaul
(for a free weekly email subscription, click
here)
For last year's essay by Rabbi Leiter on this
week's Reading, see the archive.
FROM
THE SAGES OF KABBALAH ON KabbalaOnline.org
Specifically,
for an overview of the recommended articles in the columns:
Holy Zohar, Holy Ari, Mystic Classics, Chasidic Masters, Contemporary
Kabbalists, and more,
click to Chayei
Sara
one sample:
The Zohar
Abraham's
Presents to the East
From the teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai; translation and commentary
by Shmuel-Simcha Treister, based on Metok MiDevash
The ancient children of the East were wise; they inherited the wisdom
based on the names of the unholy side that Abraham sent with the sons
of his concubines when he sent them eastward to India, away from his
son Isaac.
This ancient knowledge
indicates that the direction in which a person directs his will in This
World draws down to him a spiritual force from above, similar to his
goals.
To continue, click
here.
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For another taste of recommended Kabbalah articles on a variety of subjects,
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