What We Miss:

Hayai Sarah addresses two major subjects: The death of Sarah, and Abraham’s seeking a wife for Isaac. With Sarah's death, the Jewish people lose their first matriarchal figure. While Abraham mourns his wife and searches for a proper burial ground, he is looking for a family plot that will remain in his clan's possession. Eventually, Abraham purchases the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron. Caring for the dead is considered a Hesed Shel Emet, an “Act of Loving-Kindness” - an act we do without expectation of material reward.

What We Read-In Part

Following Sarah's death, Abraham pursues life.

As customary in his day, Abraham commands his servant Eliezer to return to his (Abraham's) ancestral home in search of a wife for Isaac. He is emphatic about not taking a wife from the Canaanite people; the Canaanites represent the antithesis of Abraham's values. Our triennial reading only includes a portion of this theme but here are the details:

In Hebron, Eliezer will hopefully find a woman who can work in partnership with Isaac to further perpetuate the covenant established between God and Abraham/ Sarah. Eliezer discovers Rebekah, who agrees to marry Isaac despite some reluctance on her brother Laban's part. (Laban displays the deceptive character we will better appreciate in the Jacob stories.)

Before sending Eliezer to Haran, Abraham gives detailed instructions about the future shidduch. To illustrate how important the instructions are, when Eliezer arrives in Haran the Torah has him repeat Abraham’s instructions to the minute detail. At stake here was not just a relationship (which in itself is important!) but the future of a nation.

Although matchmaking is generally anachronistic today, it was standard operating procedure in antiquity When Isaac and Rebekah meet, the Torah narrates:

Before leaving her home, Rebekah’s family offers her the following blessing:

O sister!
May you grow
Into thousands of myriads;
May your offspring seize
The gates of their foes.

These words are said to a Jewish bride in the bedeken ceremony which precedes the wedding. The groom, himself places the veil over his bride’s face. The ritual is marked by dancing and singing even before the wedding ceremony itself!

After Isaac and Rebekah meet the Torah narrates:

And Isaac (through Rebekah) was comforted after his mother (died).

In Rebekah, Isaac will find a woman who not only becomes his equal partner but is eventually anointed by God to be responsible for the survival of her clan. More on this next week…

Finally, the Torah continues the genealogical list of Abraham’s descendants after he re-marries; with a woman named Keturah. The list includes Ishmael’s family as well.

Haftorah Reading - First Kings 1:1-31 (pages 143-145)

In the Torah reading, Abraham dies satisfied in terms of longevity and accomplishment. In the Haftorah, we learn how King David's life, though filled with longevity and productivity, was plagued by family dissention. David made critical mistakes in his personal life, and he suffered through the rebellion of his children. In the Haftorah, an elderly and frail David learns how his son, Adonijah, rebels against his father's decision to elevate his other son, Solomon, as king. Unfortunately, David's wife, Bathsheba, and the prophet Nathan must conspire to stop the mutiny and ensure that Solomon becomes the next ruler of Israel. The family turmoil is tragic, yet inevitable. One can become a great leader and public servant but not a model parent.