ON THE PARSHA
          Parshas Chayei Sara

          by Dovid Lipman, Israel
          Year 3, No. 5


Introduction

This parsha, describes the transition from Avraham to Yitzchak
and from Sara to Rivkah, has four parts:
       1) Sara's death and burial
       2) Yitzchak's match
       3) Avraham's last wife and death
       4) Yishmael's end

1. Sara's death and burial -- Chap. 23

Sara dies at age 127 in Chevron, and Avraham goes there to mourn
and make arrangements, including buying the field containing the
Machpelah cave as a family burial plot, from a local.

   Answers to Do You Remember? -Parshas VaYeira

   1. Avraham planned to use bread to separate the milk and meat,
      but since the bread became impure, he made a "tofu" cow.
   2. Acc. to Rashi, Maachah was a boy; to Sforno, a girl.
   3. One should live in a new town; having less sins may cause
      it to be judged leniently by heaven, like Tzoar.
   4. Avraham prays in a set place in 19:27.
   5. "Fear of Elokim" is fear of the Attribute of Justice [i.e.
      punishment], "Fear of Hashem" is Awe of Hashem's greatness.

2. Yitzchak's match -- Chap. 24

Avraham assigns his servant to find a wife for Yitzchak from his
homeland. Upon arriving, the servant asks Hashem to help him find
the right girl through a test - that he ask for water and she even
water his camels. Rivkah comes to the well and 'passes' the test.
She is the granddaughter of Avraham's brother Nachor, and her
family agrees the hand of Hashem is clear. The servant gives gifts
to all and brings Rivkah back. Yitzchak marries her, and with her
he is comforted for the loss of his mother Sarah.

   The Principles of Shabbos

   (24:67) "...in the tent: Sara, his mother..." Rashi explains
   that Yitzchak saw Rivkah return the miracles of Sara's home
   which had disappeared at her death. One was a candle lit from
   Friday to Friday. Why mention Friday of it was lit all week?
   Obviously, on Friday it went out (or was put out) and was relit.
   Why? Because it could not have served for a Shabbos candle if it
   had been lit from before (Shulchan Aruch 263:4), since it must
   be clear it was lit for Shabbos. Mishnah Berurah (no. 20) explains
   that if it was not intended for Shabbos, it must be relit even if
   it was lit within 1¼ adjusted hours before Shabbos ("Plag"). If
   it was lit in this period FOR Shabbos, one does not relight, but
   one should still not light before the proper time.

3. Avraham's last wife and death -- 25:1 to 25:11 [Aliyah 6]

Avraham marries Keturah and has six more children. Before his
death at 175, he gives over his property to Yitzchak and sends
off his other sons with gifts. Avraham is buried in Machpelah.

   Worthy of Note

   (25:7) "And these are the years of Avraham which he lived..."
   Why add "which he lived"? The Ohr HaChayim links this to the
   Midrash (B.R. 63:12) that Avraham only died then because at
   that time Eisav became wicked, and Avraham would have been
   distressed to see what became of his grandson. Avraham had
   180 years coming to him - but these are how many of them he lived!

4. Yishmael's end -- 25:12 [Aliyah 6] to 25:18 [End]

Yishmael has twelve sons; each one leads a sub-family. He dies
at age 137, and his family take up being nomadic tribes.

   Do You Remember? -from the files of On the Parsha

   1. What were the gifts Avraham gave his other sons?
   2. How is marriage sanctification (Kiddushin) done?
   3. Is an Onen (mourner before burial) exempt from mizvos
      even when the dead body is not before him?
   4. How was Eliezer hoping his mission would end?