Beth HaDerech; Messianic Jewish Teachings Online

Learning from our forefathers

Weekly Sidra: Chayei Sarah (Sarah’s life)  Torah Portion: Bereshit / Genesis 23:1-25:18 Haftorah: Melachim Alef / Kings I 1:1-31 This portion called Chayei Sarah means Sarah lived yet it begins her burial.  It was never our custom to celebrate birthdays but to remember the day of the death of our loved ones, representing for us a new birth.  Sarah was 127 when she died in Kiriath Arba (Hebron).  It is believed that when she heard that Abraham took her only son Yitzhak to be sacrificed, she had a heart attack and died.  It is also believed that she and Abraham were separated since he was living in Beersheva when he came to mourn for her.  It is important for us to remember that our forefathers were humans with faults and problems like our own.  Our sages tend to glorify them, turning them into superheroes, however if we take Torah at its [...]