Parsha and Humanity: Chayei Sarah

Chayei Sarah opens with the passing and burial of Sara in the city of Hebron, in what was to become the Cave of the Patriarchs. Every year on this Shabbat, thousands of Jews come to Hebron to pray by the graves of our ancestors who are buried there.

However, tragically, the city of Hebron has also become a place of violence. In 1929, the Jews of Hebron were massacred by their neighbors, temporarily bringing to an end a community that had existed there since the time of King David. In 1994, Muslim worshippers were massacred by a Jew in the Cave itself.

Yet this Parsha  teaches us that there is another possibility. The end of the parsha describes the moving scene of the sons of Abraham, Isaac and Ishmael, coming together to bury their father in this same cave. Moreover, the name of the city Hebron alludes to its unifying potential, as it contains within it the word “chaver”, meaning friend. Likewise, the Arabic name for Hebron, “Al Khalil”, means “the friend”. It is our hope that this city once again becomes a place of connection and friendship.

I would like to share a story in this vein. One Friday afternoon, my wife, Michal, found herself alone at the Cave of the Patriarchs. As she began to pray, she heard the muezzin’s call from the adjacent mosque. His voice was so strong that my wife felt that she could not continue her own whispered prayers. Instead, she decided to interweave her words with the muezzin’s tune. It was then that she realized that his voice was indeed beautiful.

When she came home, she asked me if I knew whether that muezzin was a live person or just a recording. Fortunately, the next Sunday, I participated in a joint study group of rabbis and sheikhs in Hebron. There, I took the opportunity to ask one of the Sheiks Michal’s question. One of them answered, “Of course it’s a person! He is a relative of mine, and I will send him your blessings.”

But that is not the end of the story. Several weeks later, I was at another joint study gathering, and there was a newcomer on the Arab side whom everyone seemed excited to see. When I asked who this man was, I was told, “He’s from Al Khalil, Hebron. He has a very beautiful voice.” So I took a chance and said, “Is it possible that you are the muezzin of the mosque in Hebron?” And sure enough it was him!

Our learning together that day began with songs reflecting our shared hope in fraternity, of living up to the friendship implicit in the names Hebron and Al Khalil, united in our father Abraham.