Summary of The Weekly Torah Reading:
Parshas Chayei Sarah
Note: The Shabbos Torah Reading is divided into 7 sections. Each section
is called an Aliya [literally: Go up] since for each Aliya, one person
"goes up"
to make a bracha [blessing] on the Torah Reading.
1st Aliya:
Avraham negotiates with Ephron the Hitite to purchase the Cave of
Machpelah as a burial place for Sarah. Tradition says that this is also the
burial
place of Adam and Chava.
2nd Aliya:
Avraham sends Eliezar, his trusted servant, to Aram Naharayim,
(between the Tigris and the Euphrates) to find Yitzchak a shiduch - a bride.
3rd Aliya:
Leading a caravan of supplies and riches, Eliezar arrives in
Nachor. While resting by "the well", he devises a test to ascertain the
worthiness of a potential mate for Yitzchak. Rivkah (Yitzchak's 1st cousin
once removed) meets all the criteria and Eliezar presents her with the
appropriate gifts.
4th Aliya:
Eliezar is invited into Bisuel's home (Rivkah's father) and he relates the
entire story of his mission and his encounter with Rivkah. Eliezar asks for
her hand in marriage to Yitzchak. Bisuel and Lavan (Rivka's brother) agree.
5th Aliya:
Rivkah express her desire to depart immediately. Her family
blesses her, and Eliezar brings her to Canaan. Yitzchak marries Rivka in the
year 2108.
6th & 7th Aliyot:
Avraham marries Keturah (some say she was Hagar) and has 6
more sons. Avarham dies in 2123 - 1638 b.c.e. at the age of 175. His two sons
Yitzchak and Yishmael bury him in the Cave of Machpelah. Yishmael's 12 sons
are listed and Yishmael dies at 137.
Parsha Summary by Rabbi Aron Tendler
