Vayera
Dear friends,
This week, Vayera, we continue to follow Avraham and Sarah as they welcome Yitzhak (“he will laugh”) into their family – their long awaited son. So much happens in this reading, but near the end we read of probably the most inexplicable command in Torah – God tells Abraham to sacrifice his son on Mount Moriah (in now-Jerusalem). How could this be that the same God who gave delight and hope to Sarah and Avraham, would now demand that their precious son become an offering, draped over an altar of branches.
Chaye Sarah
November 8, 2020 by Rabbi Lynn Greenhough • From the Rabbi's Desk Tags: chaye sahah •
Dear friends,
In memory of: Pnina Benyamini, Ruth Lewis Bloomfield, Sharon Guralnick and Dina Wolfe, all of whom died over this past week. Our condolences to their families.
This week we enter into Chaye Sarah – technically we read these words as the life of Sarah, but we quickly realize it is her life as remembered by Abraham, as he eulogizes her. Sarah has died and after Abraham eulogizes her, he ensures she is buried. He purchases – for the asking price – the Cave of Machpelah. There should never be any question of ownership.
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