NOVEMBER 13-14, 2009
THE PARSHA PAGE
Ali Corman-Vogan
SOME LIGHT TORAH- Eliana Light
We learn in this week’s
parsha that Avraham lived to
be 175. The Torah says that
he was “old and contented”
at the time of his death at a
ripe old age. But when one
looks back on his life, there
seem to be some bumps in
the road, particularly his
relationship with his son
Ishmael. Ishmael was born
of Sarah’s maidservant
Hagar, whom we read about
in last week’s parsha. Sarah
urges Avraham to send them
away, and so he sends them
into the wilderness.  to bring them together, but
Avraham also had a rocky
relationship with his other
son. After his near-sacrifice,
Isaac never again speaks
to his father. There is no
interaction between them at
A publication of Hillel at Brandeis
Editors: Chaya Bender, Brian Blumenthal
Contributors: Eliana Light, Jason Henry Simon-Birenbaum, Samuel Thompson
CHAYEI SARAH
Parsha Points
» Sarah dies at age 127
» Cave of Machpela is
purchased for her burial
» Avraham's servant,
Eliezer, goes out to find
Isaac a wife
» Isaac marries Rebecca
» Avraham dies at the age
of 175
» Ishmael dies at the age
of 137
all; it seems that in devoting ,‫ האהלה שרה אמו‬,‫ויביאה יצחק‬
his life to God, Avraham ‫ ויאהבה‬,‫ויקח את רבקה ותהי לו לאשה‬
may have neglected his two
sons. They do, however, bury And Isaac brought her to the tent of Sarah his mother, and he
him together in the cave of took Rebecca, and she became his wife, and he loved her.
Machpelah. This may be the - BERESHIT 24:67
first time the brothers have
seen each other since they
were babies, and it took
the death of a father they
barely knew to bring them
together. In uniting to show
the ultimate act of love, they
are coming to terms with
their father and each other.
It is tragic that it took death
this is not an uncommon
occurrence in our own lives.
Don’t wait until a tragedy
to reach out to friends and
loved ones. The perfect time
is now. Samuel Thompson
‫כ״ז חשון תש״ע‬
‫חיי שרה‬