Parashah Roundup: Chayei Sarah 5769

by Steve Brizel

Avraham Avinu's Life After the Akedah

R. Dovid Horwitz, based upon the teachings of Rav Soloveitchik zt"l and R. Aharon Soloveitchik zt"l emphasizes that all of the events in Avraham's life following the Akedah showed that he did not begrudge Nahor and that he lived the rest of his life in a supremely ethical manner, thus fulfilling Rambam's definition of Kiddush HaShem at the beginning of Hilchos Yesodei HaTorah: link

Avraham Avinu's Mourning and Eulogy for Sarah

Rav Soloveitchik, zt"l, based upon the second Girsa in a very well known comment of Rashi, analzyes who was Sarah Imeinu: link

R. Baruch Simon explores why the Torah uses Ziknah and Bah BaYamim in describing Sarah Imeinu as Kulam Shavim LaTovah: link (audio)

Click here to read moreThe Purchase of Meoras HaMachpelah

R. Herschel Shachter reminds us of why Jewish communities have always had their own cemeteries (link - audio) and explores many of the halachic details in the halachos of Kever Yisrael: link (audio)

R. Shlomo Riskin explains that Avraham Avinu was determined to purchase the Meoras HaMachpelah in order to teach us that there is a life of the spirit that defies and transcends death: link

R. Amnon Bazak explains why the Torah provides seemingly inconsequential details into the negotiations for and the purchase of Meoras HaMachpelah: link

R. Yehudah Rock, following the methodology of R Mordechai Breuer, zt"l, illustrates why the Torah provides two narratives relating to the purchase of Meoras HaMachpelah: link

R. Yitzchak Etshalom explores the negotiations between Avraham and Ephron: link (PDF)

R. Yissocher Frand, based upon the teachings of Rabbeinu Yonah, and R Asher Brander, based upon the understanding of R Yaakov Kamentsky zt"l, explain why the purchase of Meoras HaMachpelah was the last test of Avraham Avinu: link 1, link 2

The Nesivos Shalom, as prepared by R Yitzchak Adlerstein, explains the meaning of “And HaShem Blessed Abraham with everything”: link

The Importance of Chesed in Halacha and Hashkafa

R. Yakov Haber, formerly of RIETS, provides numerous sources that illustrate why Chesed is a cornerstone of the world and Am Yisrael: link

R. Zvi Sobolofsky explains that the Talmud in Kiddushin 2a compares the acquisition of Meoras HaMachpelah with the halachic method of marriage in order to tell us that a chesed shel emes is the true model between husband and wife: link

Eliezer's Search for a Wife for Yitzchak

R. Aharon Lichtenstein suggests why Avraham Avinu gave Eliezer such detailed instructions (link) and that Eliezer was told to look for a highly motivated and active person to counterbalance the more quiet and introspective Yitzchak: link

R. Dovid Gottlieb explains why it is a mitzvah to get married (link - audio) and the halachic dimensions of Pilegesh: link (audio)

The Children of Avraham

R. Berel Wein reminds us why Yitzchak was Avrahan's only true son despite the progeny of his relationship with Kturah: link

The Death and Burial of Avraham Avinu

R. Ephraim Buchwald illustrates that those who gathered to mourn and eulogize Avraham emphasized his sterling leadership qualities, which are sorely missed today: link

The Nature of Yitzchak's Tefilah-Mincha

R. Jonathan Sacks compares the Avos, their Tefilos and their relationship to their roles in Jewish History from Biblical times until today: link

Shlichus, Mitzvah Bo Yoser MeBshlucho and Kiddushin

R. Asher Weiss exlores these inter-related halachos: link

Parshas Vayera Supplement-Avraham Avinu's Meal to the Angels-Meat after Dairy

R. Michoel Zylberman explores the halachos of how one can eat meat after dairy: link (audio)

Yiras Shamayim, The Awe, Reverence and Fear of God

R. Aharon Lichtenstein disucsses contemporary impediments to Yiras Shamayim in the latest issue of the Orthodox Forum Series: link. I would highly suggest that all readers of this blog read all of the related articles in the latest volume of the Orthodox Forum, which focuses on Yiras Shamayim, The Awe, Reverence and Fear of God, especially within the Modern Orthodox world.

Last year's roundup: link