General Overview:

THE PORTION OF CHAYEI SARAH
Genesis 23:1-25:18

This week’s portion focuses on the death of Sarah and Abraham’s quest to find a wife for their son, Isaac. Although Abraham disapproves of the local women, he does not want Isaac to leave the Land of Israel to find his wife. Abraham thus sends a servant in his place to find the right woman to marry his son. The portion ends with an account of Abraham’s final days and a genealogy of Ishmael.

Topic 1: Haftarah – Avraham and Adoniah’s Lessons for Avoiding Another Altalena Affair
In June, 1948 the five week old State of Israel desperately needed weapons and the Irgun arranged for a ship full of armaments to arrive at the Tel Aviv port. Upon arrival of the ‘Altalena’, David Ben Gurion demanded the weapons be turned over to the Hagana. When the Irgun refused, the government ordered fire…
Read More

Topic 2: Weekly Torah Portion: What Christians Can Teach Jews About Israel
Read More

Topic 3: Tying Up Loose Ends
The portion ends with an account of the end of Abraham’s days and a genealogy of Isaac’s half-brother, Ishmael. If you do the math, Abraham lives on to see his grandchildren. However, he makes no further appearances in the narrative, and so the Torah wraps up his story here. We are told he remarries,…
Read More

Topic 4: Abraham Seeks a Wife for Isaac
After burying his own wife, Abraham turns his attentions to finding a wife for their son, Isaac. Knowing as he does that Isaac is meant to be his spiritual heir, not just any woman will do. Nor may Isaac leave the Holy Land for any reason. Therefore, Abraham charges his trusty servant to select a…
Read More

Topic 5: Sarah’s Death and Burial
At the age of 127, Abraham’s beloved wife, Sarah, passes away. He sets out to find an appropriate burial site in his adopted home-town of Hebron for his departed. In an elaborate bargaining ceremony, Abraham negotiates the price for a double-cave, the Cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the Hittite, settling at last…
Read More