Today’s parsha Chayei Sara ends an era that is very dear to
us all – the era of Avraham and Sara. We women of COUNT THE STARS have lived
with Avraham and Sara for many months (Avital and I, B”H, for more than a year).
Our first matriarch and patriarch are very beloved by us all.
This week, we welcome the new generation of Jewish
leadership – Yitzchak and Rivka. We also see many connections to the previous
parshiyot with which we are so immersed.
Avraham sent his trusted servant Eliezer to his old home to
find a wife for Yitzchak, a wife with the qualities of the Abrahamic family –
kindness, chesed (Rivka’s chesed to Eliezer and his camels is legendary) and a recognition
of Hashem as G-d. Even Lavan (whom we know is NOT a good-guy) calls Eliezer, “Blessed
of Hashem” and agrees that the shiddach between Yitzchak and Rivka “stems from
Hashem.”
B”H, Rivka agrees to accompany Eliezer back to Canaan , and they travel to Yitzchak’s encampment.
“Now Yitzchak came from having gone to Beer-lachai-roi, for
he dwelt in the south.” Remember that place – where Hagar met the angels for
the first time. Sforno writes that this is the place where “Hagar’s prayer had
once been answered, and it was there that Yitachak had gone to pray.” Of
course, Hashem answered his prayers immediately, because he looked up and ta da
da da (triumphant music), there was Rivka his bride.
Rasha says that Yitzchak had gone to Beer-lachai-roi to
bring back Hagar to remarry his father. “This follows the tradition that
Keturah, Avraham’s second wife was Hagar.”
It even states that after Avraham’s death, Hashem blessed
Yitzchak his son, “and Yitzchak settled near Beer-lechai roi”. Isn’t it amazing
that Yitzchak understood the holiness of the place - a place worthy of angels -
and did not shy away from it, even though this was where Hagar was blessed with
a son, Ishmael, “a wild-ass of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone’s
hand against him.”
Lastly, the parsha enumerates the descendants of Ishmael. Ishmael
is called “Avraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to
Avraham.” Yes, he was the son of his wife’s maidservant, but Avraham still
looked upon him as a son. When each of Ishmael’s children is named, Rashi
explains that here we see that Hashem’s blessing to Hagar at the well was
fulfilled, “over his brothers he’ll dwell.” “Ishmael’s descendants would be so
numerous that they would have to expand beyond their own borders into those of
their brothers.”
We begin the parsha with the death of our beloved matriarch
Sara at age 127, and conclude the parsha with the end of the Avraham era (even
though he didn’t really die here) when
he was 175 years old. “And Avraham expired and died at a good old age, mature
and content, and he was gathered to his people. His sons Yitzchak and Ishmael
buried him in the cave
of Machpelah
B”H, Avraham attained a long long life, and eventually one
of contentment. Then, his sons, different as they were, and fated with totally
different destinies, stood together to bury their father. In fact, Rashi said
that Ishmael gave precedence to his younger brother – “and we infer that he
repented.”
May Hashem bless our people always. May we have nachas from
our children. May we see Hashem’s blessings to Avraham come true fully – “to
your seed I will give this land.”
Photos by Bati Katz.
