Telephone Torah Study: Are You Kind?
This week’s Torah portion, Chayei Sarah (Genesis 23:1-25:18) tells of three important events: Sarah’s death and burial, Isaac and Rebekah’s marriage, and the reunion of Isaac and Ishmael to bury their father Abraham.
Telephone Torah Study will take place this Thursday, November 13, 4-5pm. To join in on the conference call, please dial 702-851-4044, when prompted punch in 2, then our pass code 22252#.
Over the centuries, Rebekah has been a Jewish role model. What was her defining characteristic? Kindness. In this week’s g-dcast episode—a site known for its fun and informative animated videos—Goldie Goldbloom asks the question: “”Are you kind?” As kind as Rebecca, that is.”
Rabbi Lisa Edwards provides the Torah commentary for Chayei Sarah in this week’s Jewish Journal. Read it here
Check out more suggestion reading from last year’s discussion
Torah Verse of the Week
And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah; he took Rebekah, and she became his wife and he loved her. Thus did Isaac take comfort after [the death of] his mother. (Gen. 24:62)
Chayei Sarah in a Nutshell
Genesis 23:1–25:18
Sarah dies at age 127 and is buried in the Machpelah Cave in Hebron, which Abraham purchases from Ephron the Hittite for four hundred shekels of silver.
Abraham’s servant Eliezer is sent, laden with gifts, to Charan, to find a wife for Isaac. At the village well, Eliezer asks G‑d for a sign: when the maidens come to the well, he will ask for some water to drink; the woman who will offer to give his camels to drink as well shall be the one destined for his master’s son.
Rebecca, the daughter of Abraham’s nephew Bethuel, appears at the well and passes the “test.” Eliezer is invited to their home, where he repeats the story of the day’s events. Rebecca returns with Eliezer to the land of Canaan, where they encounter Isaac praying in the field. Isaac marries Rebecca, loves her, and is comforted over the loss of his mother.
Abraham takes a new wife, Keturah (Hagar), and fathers six additional sons, but Isaac is designated as his only heir. Abraham dies at age 175 and is buried beside Sarah by his two eldest sons, Isaac and Ishmael.
