Death’s Sanctity: Chayeh Sarah

And after that Abraham buried Sarah

Genesis 23:19

The Torah holds one’s passing sacred. The Portion Chayeh Sarah unleashes life lessons surrounding death’s sanctity that continue throughout the Pentateuch. With one’s passing, there is the inevitable gathering of individuals. Some harboring long-standing consternation towards fellow funeral attendees.

When Venn Diagramming life activities with the Decalogue scheme, this topic falls squarely within the commandments to honor one’s parents. The scripture’s recurrent telling of passings signals their societal and familial significance.

In Chayeh Sarah, Sarah, at the 127 years of age, passes in the city of Hebron. There, Abraham, her husband, undertakes his wife’s burial.

The Arrangements

From the onset, the burial arrangements were problematic as Abraham, and his family, are strangers in a strange land. Sensitive to his standing, Abraham approached the locals- the children of Heth- to take up the matter.

He told them: “I’m an alien and visitor to you. Give me a possession for a tomb with you so I may bury my dead from in front of me.” Genesis 23:4. The children of Heth respected his plea. Genesis 23:6.

For the burial site, Abraham requested the cave of Machpelah owned by Ephron son of Zohar. Genesis 23:8-9. Abraham purchased it for the full price. Genesis 23:9. [Note: His act prevented any future contest to the purchase.]

Abraham’s enlightenment and sensitivity in Chayeh Sarah carried over throughout the generations of the Patriarchs.

Burying the Hatchet

Three relevant burials also took place at the Machpelah cave in the Book of Genesis. With each, elevated sensitivity was on display.

Despite each burial beset with sibling acrimony, the families understood to set aside their controversies. The burials served as peaceful moments.

Abraham

When Abraham passed, brothers Isaac and Ishmael acted in concert to bury their father. Genesis 25: 7-11. [“And Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, buried him…” Genesis 25:9]

Ishmael’s dismissal from living with Abraham’s family in favor of Isaac did not become an issue.

Isaac

With Isaac’s passing, brothers, with a history off far greater acrimony- Jacob and Esau- met to bury their father.

Again, siblings set their personal matters aside to bury their father without incident. Genesis 35:27-29. [“And Jacob and Esau, his sons, buried him..” Genesis 35:29]

Jacob

With Jacob’s passing, the sibling controversy surpassed prior generations. In this generation, Joseph’s brothers conspired against him resulting in him becoming a slave in Egypt.

Despite this epic problematic relationship, Jacob’s sons were also able to bury their father without incident. It is told…”And his sons carried him[Jacob] to the land of Canaan and buried him….” Genesis 50:13.

For this final burial, however, the Torah provides the backstory. In this instance, Jacob intervenes. Before his passing, he instructed the brothers to tell Joseph the following: “Please bear your brothers’ offense and their sin, because they dealt you bad.” Genesis 50:17. With that said, Joseph and his brothers reconciled. No sibling dispute to erupt. There would be peace.

Conclusion

The Torah Portion Chayeh Sarah as well as the Torah, in totality impart, profound messages concerning the sanctity of death. They are a time when families beset with generational discord can rise above the past to find family peace.

Thus, as much as serving to honor the departed, burials present as a time of healing. A place in which cooperation and setting aside past grievances is possible.

With peace, there is rest.

Be well!!

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