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TORAT MIZRACHI MIZRACHI SCHOLARS-IN-RESIDENCE

Sivan Rahav Meir and Yedidya Meir

Three

Contemporary

Lessons

FROM
Chayei Sarah

hayei Sarah is actually not about peoples of the region, there are red lines, assign this land to your offspring’ – He
Sarah, but about Rivka. The mes- and this is what he says to Eliezer when will send His angel before you, and you
Csage is clear: there is no “Chayei he sends him on his mission to find a will get a wife for my son from there.
Sarah” without the continuity, without wife for Yitzchak: And if the woman does not consent to
the “Chayei Rivka.” Avraham and Sarah follow you, you shall then be clear of
will be a passing episode if there is no “‘And I will make you swear by the L-rd, this oath to me; but do not take my son
one to continue what they began. the G-d of heaven and the G-d of the back there.’”
earth, that you will not take a wife for my
Here are three special lessons from our son from the daughters of the Canaan- On this point, there are no compro-
first Abba and Ima that we can continue ites among whom I dwell, but will go mises. And nothing has changed since
to apply today to the land of my birth and get a wife Avraham’s times. If anything, the sit-
for my son Yitzchak.’ And the servant uation is much worse. In my opinion,
Facing Up to Assimilation said to him, ‘What if the woman does we are dealing too much with other

This may not be politically correct, but not consent to follow me to this land, issues and neglecting this issue, which
this is how the story of the post-Avra- shall I then take your son back to the should be the issue on the Jewish peo-
ham and Sarah generation begins. First land from which you came?’ Avraham ple’s agenda. In the United States, the
and foremost, Avraham demands that answered him, “On no account must you sad reality for some time has been more
his children do not marry the children of take my son back there! The L-rd, the than 60% intermarriage. We have seen
another people. He is establishing some- G-d of heaven, who took me from my this up close, and it is our responsibil-
thing new here, and despite his desire father’s house and from my native land, ity to continue Avraham Avinu’s sacred
for friendship and cooperation with the who promised me on oath, saying, ‘I will mission.

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