This week’s parasha, Chayei Sarah, reflects on the life of Sarah and the legacy she leaves behind as she dies.

The parasha begins with the death of Sarah at the age of 127. Abraham negotiates with the Hittites to buy the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron as a burial site, establishing it as the first piece of land owned by the Jewish people in the Land of Israel. Abraham sends his servant (traditionally understood to be Eliezer) to find a suitable wife for Isaac from his family back in Aram-Naharaim. Eliezer prays for a sign to identify the right woman, asking that she offer water to him and his camels.

Rivkah arrives at the well and fulfills the exact conditions of Eliezer’s prayer. She demonstrates kindness and generosity, qualities that make her the perfect match for Isaac. The objects in Sarah's tent that represent her soul—like the candles that would always stay lit and the bread that would always be fresh—reappear when Rivkah enters, symbolizing her continuation of Sarah’s legacy.

After meeting her family and negotiating with her brother Laban and her father Bethuel, Rebecca agrees to leave with Eliezer immediately. Rebecca and Isaac meet in the fields, and Isaac brings her into his mother Sarah’s tent. This signifies the importance of women in the Bible and how Sarah’s legacy as a matriarch and her faith live on through the next matriarch of the family.

This chapter also deals with the grief of Abraham, who openly and publicly expresses his sorrow. This teaches us the lesson that it is okay to openly share our feelings. Abraham passes away at the age of 175 and is buried next to Sarah in the Cave of Machpelah by both Isaac and Ishmael, who reunite to honor their father.

I invite you this Shabbat to reflect: How are you living your life? What identifies you? What will be your legacy?

Shabbat Shalom
Zoe Kaufman, Eastern Region: North Carolina Council