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PARSHA POSTS: CHAYEI SARAH

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Nov 9, 2026, 2:21 PM

Chayei Sarah – Haftara: Following the Will of G-d

There are twenty pesukim just on the topic of the purchase of Ma'aaras HaMachpela in Hevron. The Midrash (Bereishis Rabbah 79:7) states that there are three places in Eretz Yisrael that the nations of the world cannot lie and...

Nov 8, 2026, 11:55 AM

The Ten Camels That Changed Jewish History

Rebecca watering the ten camels — an original AI-generated artistic interpretation of Bereshit 24:19.

Parashat Chayei Sarah reveals how Rebecca’s compassion for animals became part of the divine providence guiding the future of Israel. Why does the Torah call this portion Chayei Sarah, “The Life of Sarah,” when it begins with her death? I...

Nov 8, 2026, 12:16 AM

Eliezer, Yaakov, and the Narcissist’s Welcome

In this past week's parsha, we meet Lavan for the first time. When Eliezer comes to Rivkah's family, Lavan is the first to greet him. The pesukim describe their meeting (Bereshis 24:31-33) as follows: וַיֹּאמֶר בּוֹא בְּרוּךְ ה' לָמָּה תַעֲמֹד...

Hande Gençünal

Nov 8, 2026, 12:14 AM

One Ending Another Beginning on Chayei Sarah

Parashat Chayei Sarah begins in a strange place. Its name means the life of Sarah, and its first verse tells of her death. The Torah does not give us a single scene from her life, it only counts her...

Nov 6, 2026, 6:04 PM

Isaac and Prayer (Chayei Sarah, Covenant & Conversation)

One scene in this week’s sedra has left a mark on Jewish law. Abraham has sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac. He finds Rebecca, and brings her back with him. The first glimpse she has of...

William Hamilton

Nov 6, 2026, 6:04 PM

Surmounting Challenges

How did David defeat Goliath? Judah Taub in his terrific new book, Moonshots for Israel, suggests a fresh answer. David found a way to make Goliath’s powers irrelevant. Fascinating. Let’s bookmark this insight. Only two biblical personalities are associated with...

Talyah Ginsberg

Nov 6, 2026, 1:32 PM

Chayei Sarah: Ten Camels, Three Velcro Cats and a Criminal Bottle of Water

Home, sweet home. Theoretically. I have returned to Israel after a month in South Africa, and three furry members of the reception committee have decided that my passport should be confiscated, shredded and buried in the litter tray. My...

Nov 6, 2026, 12:14 PM

The Gift of Becoming Unnecessary

A rather cruel blessing of parenthood is if you've done your job properly, at some point your children will stop “needing” you. This same indignity awaits good teachers, mentors, and therapists, although some have developed remarkably sophisticated methods of...

Nov 6, 2026, 12:13 PM

What Men Do with Grief (Chaye Sarah)

Sarah dies, and Abraham cries. That is where Parashat Chayei Sarah begins. Not with theology, not with a lesson about mortality, not even with Abraham trying to make meaning out of what has happened. His wife dies, and he...

Nov 6, 2026, 12:13 PM

The Infinite Depths of Torah

How big is the Torah? It is much bigger than we think it is! What is Torah? Is it just the five books of Moses that are written in the Torah scroll that is read in synagogue? Or does it...

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