Page 6 - HaMizrachi #14 2019 Chayei Sarah USA

MIZRACHI EDUCATORS

Rabbi Reuven Taragin Rabbanit Shani Taragin
MA’ARAT HAMACHPELA

ESTABLISHING THE ETERNAL

ERETZ AVOTAI

AVRAHAM AND SARAH – inevitable return to it. Ya’akov under- Jewish future and return to and receive
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PURCHASE AND BURIAL stands the Land’s connection to his inheritances in the “Land of your
ancestors, describing it as “my father’s Avot.”
arah’s – and later Avraham’s – house.”
burial in Ma’arat HaMachpela The story concludes with Yosef asking
Sframes Parashat Chayei Sarah. When Ya’akov finally does return to his brothers to make him the same
The parasha elaborates on Avraham’s the Land of his fathers, he addresses promise: “G-d will redeem you and
purchase of the cave because this G-d as “elokay avi Avraham, vei’lokay take you out of this land to the one
transaction cemented the Avot and avi Yitzchak,” teaching us that our promised to Avraham, Yitzchak and
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their descendants’ eternal relationship relationship with G-d and the Land of Yaakov… take my bones up from here.”
with the Land G-d promised them. 1 Israel is through our relationship with
our Avot to whom He promised the Ma’arat HaMachpela is an everlasting
YITZCHAK – STAYING IN THE LAND Land. 4 symbol of our connection with our
PROMISED TO HIS FATHER Avot. May this appreciation strengthen
EXILE AND RETURN FROM EGYPT our relationship with both the G-d and
In the ensuing parshiot, G-d teaches the Land of our forefathers.
Avraham’s descendants the impor- Sefer Bereishit concludes with Ya’akov
tance of the Avot in our relationship back in exile for a second time. Feeling 1 This is why Avraham insists on purchasing
with both G-d and the Land He prom- his end approaching, Ya’akov asks his the land (note his continued usage of the
ised them. children to swear they will bury him in term “achuzat kever”) as opposed to just
Ma’arat HaMachpela. He blesses them accepting the offer to bury within it.
In Toldot, G-d identifies Himself to and Yosef’s sons, once again focusing 2 See also Bereishit 28:15 and Vayikra 26:42.
Yitzchak as the G-d of “Avraham your on the Avot as central to his and our 3 We follow his lead by opening our Shem-
father” and twice tells him to stay in relationships. oneh Esrei by addressing G-d as “Elokeinu
the Land of Israel because He intends Veilokay avoteinu” and then mentioning
each of the Avot and their relationship with
to fulfill the promise made to his Ya’akov’s connection to Eretz Yisrael G-d.
father and give him the Land. is rooted in his connection to his Avot 4 Chazal (Sotah 37) tell us that Ya’akov’s son,
buried there. He sees his life as a con- Yosef, was also sustained through his rela-
YA’AKOV – RETURNING TO THE LAND tinuation of their lives and so his death tionship with his father.
OF OUR AVOT is a return to them. 5 5 The Midrash explains that when we recite
the words Shema Yisrael we are addressing
Vayetzei begins with G-d repeating Ya’akov’s blessings to his children are Ya’akov ‘our father’ in Ma’arat HaMachpela
and letting him know that we (like his sons)
this promise to Ya’akov, with two also rooted in the relationship of avot remain true to his heritage. The Zohar
novel elements: first, by citing not only and banim (fathers and sons): “Gather adds that this continued recitation is why
Yitzchak but Avraham as Ya’akov’s and hear children of Ya’akov, hear Ya’akov Avinu does not die.
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father (even though Avraham was Yisrael your father.” Ya’akov expresses 6 See Rambam, Kriyat Shema 1:4, who builds
off the two phrases of this verse in a pow-
actually his grandfather), G-d teaches this idea even more clearly when erful way.
Ya’akov the concept of Avot. Avraham speaking to Menashe and Ephraim, the Rabbi Reuven Taragin is Educational
is the father of us all. two grandchildren born and raised in Director of Mizrachi and Dean of the
Egypt. He tells Yosef that “the G-d who
Second, G-d’s promise of the Land my Avot walked before... will bless the Yeshivat HaKotel Overseas Program
ravtaragin@mizrachi.org
to Ya’akov was made not to someone children and call them by the names
remaining in the Land (like Yitzchak), of my Avot.” Ya’akov tells Yosef that
but to one being forced to leave it. The Ephraim and Menashe will not only Scan here to join Rabbi
promise is not only a reason to stay carry the names of the Avot, they will Taragin’s WhatsApp group
in the Land but also the basis of our also (because of this) be part of the with daily Divrei Torah

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