Rabbi Howard Morrison

While the Torah portion this week details the death and burial of matriarch Sarah, the title, Chayei Sarah, actually means the life of Sarah. While some other cultures glorify death, we do not. We affirm faith at a time of death, but we do not celebrate it. Rather, we celebrate life, cherish life, and recall the merit of one's life even after one's passing from this world.

When we think about the founding family, Abraham and Sarah, both of whose deaths are recorded in this Parsha, we focus on their attributes: Building a faith-based nation, opening their home to the needy, and much more. 

Today, marks one month that the horrors of October 7^th took place. Over 1400 dead. Some 250 taken hostage. Young IDF soldiers who have died since. So many of us hurting in a variety of ways. In my humble opinion, it is our challenge and mandate to talk about those who were slain, to talk about those who have been taken hostage - and to talk about the attributes of their lives. It is incumbent upon us to keep the memories of the dead alive and to keep our hope for the hostages alive.

Parshat Chayei Sarah instructs us to remember the "life of" those dear to us at all times.

Rabbi Howard Morrison