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Chayei Sarah (2025)

Shabbat Chayei-Sarah

Dvar Torah – The Legacy of Lech-L’cha
Abraham — like any Jewish father — is worried. Sarah has passed away, Isaac has come of age, and he needs to find his son a wife. What follows is the legendary narrative of Eliezer, Abraham’s trusted servant, journeying to Aram-Naharayim — Abraham’s homeland — where he miraculously encounters Rebecca. Her kindness and generosity shine through immediately, and she unhesitatingly says “yes.”

But why did Isaac need a wife from abroad? The same question arises with Jacob — why were the women of Canaan unsuitable for the patriarchs?

I once heard a beautiful insight from my sister (whose given name, incidentally, is Rebecca). The defining trait of our patriarchs was their willingness to venture into the unknown in response to God’s call. Abraham heard the command of “Lech Lecha” — to leave behind everything familiar — and he went on to the Promised Land. To join this family and become the mothers of the Jewish people, the matriarchs, too, had to possess that same spirit. They needed the courage to go against the current, to leave comfort and familiarity in pursuit of something higher.

As Jews, we have inherited this spiritual legacy. We are a small nation in number and are not afraid to stand apart. Individually and collectively, we strive to live up to this heritage: to walk in the ways of Hashem, even when it means stepping away from what is known, and setting out — once again — on a journey of faith.

Shabbat in/out times
Yerusahlayim 16:00/17:18
Tel-Aviv 16:19/17:19
Budapest 15:51/16:57
Paris 16:53/18:01
NYC 16:20/17:21
Cleveland 16:50/17:51
Seattle 16:15/17:22
More times

Shabbat Shalom!



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