Parashat Chayei Sarah (life of Sarah) Genesis 23:1 - 25:18
HafTorah Kings I 1:1-31
Dear friends,
The story of the search for—and discovery of—a bride for Isaac, son of Abraham and Sarah, is the subject of this week's Torah portion, Chayei Sarah, the life of Sarah even though it begins with her death. When Sarah dies, the Hebrew nation is her legacy thus she lives on through all of us. We will read Chapter 24, verse 53 through Chapter 25, verse 18 of the Book of Genesis (Bereshit). It is probably the earliest account of an arranged marriage, but also a romantic account of how G-d brings Isaac and Rebecca together.
Isaac, depressed and in grief over the death of his mother, Sarah, and without a life's companion, was in desperate need of a reason to live. And G-d gave that to him.
Isaac and Rebecca's marriage—and their lives—were not easy and fraught with conflict and occasionally with deceit as we will learn later on through the story of their sons Jacob and Esau. But their finding each other, through the workings of G-d, enable us to believe that true love and loyalty do exist side by side regardless of how people come together. In my own family, all marriages were "arranged" until my generation with only one exception, and yet all of the marriages lasted throughout lifetimes with no divorces. There existed love and respect if not the greatest amount of outward passion.
Please join me at services (both in-person and virtually on zoom) tonight at 7:30 pm and tomorrow morning at 9:30 am as we read and study the third triennial of this Torah portion.
Also, there is still time to sign up to help with food distribution at Metropolitan Ministries. Please let me know if you need any help following the instructions we have provided in our past communications and take care.
Shabbat Shalom!
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
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