|
This week's parsha, Parshat Chayei Sarah, brings us the news of the death of our matriarch, Sarah, at 127 years old. Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, the Rav, zt’l, teaches: “Avraham survived Sarah by thirty-eight years. But the Torah says very little about his activities following Sarah’s death. Only two events are recorded: the purchase of a grave for Sarah and the marrying off of Yitzchak.” (Chumash Masoret haRav, Bereishit, p.158).
When Sarah dies, Avraham leaves the spotlight and allows for his son, Yitzchak, to emerge as the new leader of Jewish continuity. With the death of Sarah, the pasuk tells us: וַתָּ֣מת שָׂרָ֗ה בְּקִרְיַ֥ת אַרְבַּ֛ע הִ֥וא חֶבְר֖וֹן בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וַיָּבֹא֙ אַבְרָהָ֔ם לִסְפֹּ֥ד לְשָׂרָ֖ה וְלִבְכֹּתָֽהּ, and Sarah died in Kiryat Arbah, which is Chevron, in the land of Canaan, and Avraham came to eulogize Sarah and to cry for her (Bereishit 23:2). And then Avraham begins to look for a place to bury Sarah. According to Chazal, finding a burial place for Sarah was Avraham's final test. The pasuk says: וַיָּ֙קם֙ אַבְרָהָ֔ם מֵעַ֖ל פְּנֵ֣י מֵת֑וֹ וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אֶל־בְּנֵי־חֵ֖ת לֵאמֹֽר – and Avraham arose from before his dead, and he spoke to the sons of Cheit saying … Give me a burial portion with you, so that I may bury my dead before me (23:3-4).
Rav Soloveitchik teaches, וַיָּ֙קם֙ – and he arose – implies the end of the most intense stage of mourning. In the Lecha Dodi prayer of Friday night, we encounter a similar phrase, התנערי מעפר קומי, Shake off the dust, Arise! (Isaiah 52:2), in which the prophet laments that Jerusalem is wallowing in the dust and bids her to rise.”
| 
