Weekly Reading Insights: Chaye Sara 5767

FROM THE MASTERS OF KABBALA (K:0567/Chaye Sara)

From the holy Zohar, teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (Z:0467/Vayera)

Why then is it written that G-d tested Abraham, not Isaac? This was indeed Abraham's test, for G-d [wanted to bring Abraham to perfection]. Thus He sought to blend Abraham with judgement [i.e. the sefira of gevura], of which there was no trace at all in Abraham prior to this.

Now, [once Abraham passed the test] water [chesed, kindness] would be blended with fire [gevura, din, severity].

For the full article, click to the "Weekly Holidays" section on our KabbalaOnline site.

* * * * *

From the holy Ari, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria of Safed (A:0567/Chaye Sara)

In the Ultimate Future, after the soul returns from its temporary abode in the afterlife and is resurrected in the rectified physical world, there will be no need for the soul to experience such "processed" divine consciousness, i.e. there will be no need for the name Havayah to be spelled out.

For the full article, click to the "Weekly Holidays" section on our KabbalaOnline site.

* * * * *

From Rabbi Chaim (ben Moshe) Ibn Atar (S:0567/Chaye Sara)

While the righteous are alive in this world, the four basic material elements that every human being is composed of become transformed into something spiritual and attach themselves to their souls by means of the good deeds that such persons perform during their sojourn on earth.

For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section on our KabbalaOnline site.

from the Chabad Master series, produced by Rabbi Yosef Marcus for

www.ascentofsafed.com and www.kabbalaonline.org

MOSHIACH THIS WEEK (M:0567/Chaye Sara)

After the passing of his wife Sara, Abraham purchased the field in Hebron with the Cave of Machpelah as a burial place. This purchase represents the beginning of the general redemption of all Jews. The commentary Pa'ane'ach Raza explains that with the 400 silver shekels that Abraham paid (Gen. 23:16), he purchased one square cubit of the Land of Israel for every one of the 600,000 root-souls of the Children of Israel.

(From Discover Moshiach)

An essay from Rabbi Shaul Yosef Leiter, director of Ascent

(for a free weekly email subscription, click here) (W:0567/Chaye Sara)

This week's Torah reading contains the first description of how a match came about between our ancestors, Isaac and Rebecca. According to Rebbe Michil of Zlotchov, a basic secret of a good Jewish marriage is learning Torah! Eliezer, Abraham's servant, describes the events leading to his meeting Rebecca: "And I was standing by the well, and the daughters of the townspeople approached" (Gen. 24:43). Eliezer just mentioned in the previous verse that he was by the well. Why does he repeat this detail? Rebbe Michil answers with a teaching he received from his father about Hagar, Sara's maidservant from last week's portion.

When Hagar was sent from Abraham's home, the Torah says that an angel found her by a well. Once she was no longer a member of Abraham's household, she no longer had the merit to see angels. It was only by a well that an angel could appear to her because of the holy dimension of water. Water is compared to and connected to Torah, G-d's will and wisdom. Just like Torah, water comes from the highest heights into the world, in order to nourish and strengthen. So it was only by water that the angel could appear to her.

This was also true regarding Eliezer. Eliezer was an extremely humble person; he assumed that because of his lowliness and unworthiness that G-d would not allow him to fulfill his mission. Therefore, he specifically states that he was standing by a well. Even if he was not worthy, perhaps in the merit of the water, he would be able to do as his master requested of him.

This connects to what it says in the Midrash (Yalkut Shimoni, Ezekiel 331a), that outside of Israel G-d's indwelling presence, the Shechina, cannot reveal itself except near water, due to water's special qualities, as mentioned above. The lesson for all of us is that to insure that we succeed in all of our endeavors (and particularly in our marriages!) we must study Torah which is called "a flowing well". Through Torah study, which is compared to water, the Shechina can dwell with us. This will bring great revelations, and ultimately, please G-d soon, the Redemption.

The Shlah writes of the great merit to succeed in helping your children find their soul mates. Do your best to connect to good families just as Abraham did. Although it became apparent later that Rebecca was a righteous prophetess, Abraham ostensibly recommended her originally because she was from a good family, relative to those times.

Shabbat Shalom, Shaul

P.S. Please also read my weekly Shabbat Law, below.

(for a free weekly email subscription, click here)

For all our insights for this parsha:

from last year

from two years ago

from three years ago

from four years ago

from five years ago