Parshas Chayei Sarah
1. Avrohom came to eulogize Soroh and to cry for her (v'livkosah). 23:2.
The Ba'al HaTurim notes that the word v'livkosah is written with a
small 'kaf', indicating that Avrohom did not cry as fully or completely as
he might have; his crying was in some sense curtailed. Why should this be
so?
2. This pasuk begins by saying that Soroh died, and continues by saying
that Avrohom came to eulogize Soroh and cry for her. A well known
question on this pasuk is why is it necessary to repeat Soroh's name
explicitly in the second part of the pasuk; it could simply have said
Soroh died and Avrohom came to eulogize her and cry for her, using
pronouns instead of her name.
While the death of a private citizen always brings bereavement to the
family members, the death of a person of public stature brings bereavement
both to the family members and to the public. The public element of the
eulogies is for the community to acknowledge and appreciate the
contributions made by the deceased and the loss which now results - in
Soroh's case this would be her role in teaching monotheism. The private
element is for the family members to acknowledge and appreciate the
deceased - in Soroh's case this would be her role as a wife and mother.
Soroh is the name given to Sorai in recognition of her capacity to be a
princess or aristocrat among the nations of the world. It is her public
name. Avrohom understood that the purpose of the public eulogies was for
the public to appreciate their loss. For this reason he curtailed his
private crying, at least in public, so that the emphasis on her public
role would be properly emphasized. And this is also why the pasuk
emphasizes 'Soroh', her public name.
[This is based on shiurim of HoRav Yochanan Zweig, Shlita.]
Gal Einai, Copyright © 2006 by Gedalia Litke and Torah.org.
