Weekly Message 11.14.2025 Parashat Chayei Sarah
- jccwestpasco
- Nov 13
- 4 min read
Parashat Chayei Sarah (The Life of Sarah) Genesis 23:1 - 25:18
HafTorah Kings I 1-31
Dear friends,
Thanks to Rabbi Gedan and the congregants at Neve Shalom in Metuchen, NJ, seven of us (I only wish there would have been more!) were able to fully participate on Zoom in the Global Day of Jewish Learning. As we studied the debates of Hillel and Shammai on almost every level of religious and moral belief, we more fully realized how important it is for all of us to respect the ideas and character of others with whom we disagree and not regard them as "evil". This is such an important concept even in our very contentious political world. I hope that we can continue to participate and take advantage of these unique opportunities to meet and study together.
We will begin our study with this week's Torah portion of Chaye Sarah, translated as "the life of Sarah" when it should have properly been named מוֹרֶשֶׁת (Moreshet) "the legacy of Sarah" as the mention of her death leads off the reading. We actually know almost nothing of Sarah's life after her husband and son (Abraham and Isaac) set out from home for the Akeida where Abraham shows that he is willing to sacrifice the only child that he and Sarah parented as a sign of his devotion to Hashem. There is no indication that Isaac even saw his morhter again after the Akeida. We can only imagine how heartbroken she was.
However, it is the legacy that Sarah passes down to us that really matters. Indeed, the kindness and devotion that she exhibited to others and love of her family and her neighbors regardless of where she traveled becomes her legacy and thus, she lives far beyond her 127 years on earth. Isaac sees in Rebecca, the bride who is chosen for him, those same qualities. As Rabbi Frederick Reeves of Isaiah Israel Congregation of Chicago puts it, "Instead of portraying merely Sarah’s death, our portion shows how an enduring legacy can prolong our life from generation to generation, giving our children direction and hope after we are physically gone." And that sums up the significance of this Torah portion for me!
Please join me this evening at 7 pm and tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 9:30 am as we read and study the first triennial portion of this Sedrah (Bereshit 23:1-24:9), announce the new month of Kislev and read Chapter One of the First Book of Kings for our Haftorah as we contrast the end of the life of King David as compared to that of Abraham.
And as we enter the winter holiday season, we are reminded of the dire need of food and housing assistance for those less fortunate than us. Please consider volunteering at the Metropolitan Ministries holiday tent on November 25th and December 18th (details and sign-up link below) and/or contributing funds to any of the many organizations that are feeding and clothing the needy especially at this important time of the year. Here are four suggestions, but there are many more!
Metropolitan Ministries, 2002 N. Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33602 https://www.metromin.org
Feeding Tampa Bay, 3264 Causeway Blvd, Tampa, FL 33619 https://feedingtampabay.org
Volunteer Way, 806 Congress St, Port Richey, FL 34668 https://thevolunteerway.org
Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger, PO Box 6095, Albert Lea, MN 56007 https://mazon.org
And here are some of our upcoming activities in November and December. I am looking forward to seeing you at many if not all of them!
Shabbat Shalom,
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
Monday, November 24 Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at Temple Beth David at 13158 Antelope St, Spring Hill, FL 34609, 7 pm. We will organize a carpool from our synagogue.
Tuesday, November 25 Volunteering at the Metropolitan Ministries Holiday Tent on the grounds of Generations Church at 1540 Little Rd, Trinity, FL, 11:15 am-2:30 pm. Sign up at:
Jewish Community Center Group Link: https://vhub.at/1L1BLIK
Saturday, December 6 Pre-Hanukkah party and viewing of the annual New Port Richey holiday boat parade at the Cotee River (Grand Boulevard between Vermont and Kentucky Avenues), 6 pm
Friday, December 12 Pre-Hanukkah Shabbat bring your own dairy casserole dinner—we supply the potato latkes!, following a brief Kabbalat Shabbat service, 6:30 pm
Sunday, December 14 Volunteering to bring Hanukkah cheer (song, food, and candle lighting ) to homebound residents of Trinity Place Assisted Living, 8684 Old County Road 54, New Port Richey, FL 34653, 2 pm
Thursday, December 18 Volunteering at the Metropolitan Ministries Holiday Tent on the grounds of Generations Church at 1540 Little Rd, Trinity, FL, 8:30 am-12 pm. Sign up at:
Jewish Community Center Group Link: https://vhub.at/1L1BLIK
Wednesday, December 31 New Year's Eve Dinner-Dance, 8 pm-12:30 am
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