Chaye Sarah

In Kohelet we read “the sun rises and the sun sets,” which appears too commonplace a truth to be worth mentioning, as meaning that God insures that before the setting of one sun, another sunrise has already been arranged. Thus Rabbi Yehudah Hanassi was born before the death of Rabbi of Akiva. So, also, was Rivkah born before the death of Sarah. Our physical universe is arranged in such a way that the sun shines somewhere all the time, due to the earth revolving on its own axis once in twenty four hours. Our spiritual universe has been arranged similarly by God, so that spiritual light is always available somewhere.

Yitzchak Arama (15^th Century)

A protracted and wearisome process of negotiation is detailed at the beginning of this week’s sidra, in connection with Abraham’s purchase of a burial ground for his family. Researchers into antiquity have regarded this passage as a source of information on customs and manners in the ancient east, particularly in the realm of buying and selling. But it would be indeed strange if the torah had dwelt on these details, just for the purpose of realistic colouring. As a rule, the Torah pays little attention to the incidentals of human existence, dress and deportment, domestic manners and the like…No greater contrast could be imagined than that between “and make your name great,” and between the story of the humiliation and prostration of the chosen of the Lord…the greater the contrast between the promise and the fulfillment…the greater the challenge.

Nechama Leibowitz (20^th Century)

The reason that the Torah has so greatly elaborated upon this purchase in minute detail is that Avraham endeavored to implant in the hearts of the nations a great cornerstone principle of the faith. And that is: belief in the survival of the soul after death and belief in future reward that will accrue both to the soul and to the body…consequently, it is necessary to prepare for the body of the dead a distinguished site, a choice location for his grave among members of his own family and among righteous men…All this was strange to the sons of Heth…thus, it is that what had been made clear during the negotiations can be compared to the Ten Commandments which expounded our faith, including that there is reward and punishment.

Malbim (19^th Century)

For the purpose of burial Abraham requests first of all, the right to acquire a piece of land as a permanent possession. For years he has dwelt in the land as a stranger; despite all his wealth he has never attempted to acquire so much as a square foot of land there. After all, his calling was to be a wanderer. But now the necessity to bury his wife makes it necessary for him, for the first time, to acquire possession of a piece of land. His wife’s grave is to be the first bond that will tie him to the land, that place which will draw him to it and hold him.

Samson Raphael Hirsch (19^th Century)

The midrashic and aggadic tales testify…how Abraham, without the knowledge of his wife Sarah, who had her rival, Hagar, sent away, went twice to the desert to visit his banished son, Ishmael…the Midrash states that Ketura was none other than Hagar herself, whom Abraham brought back after Sarah died…Not only that, but the Midrash tells us something remarkable: the meeting between Isaac and Rebecca…was that Isaac was bringing back Hagar to Abraham so as to return her to his father to rectify the injustice

Yeshayahu Leibowitz (20^th Century)