The very heart of this week’s Torah portion, Ḥayyei Sarah, is the story of finding a bride for our forefather Isaac. It’s quite surprising to see the extent of the Torah’s attention to finding him a wife so close on the heels of the tale of his near-sacrifice (‘akedat Yitzḥak) and in particular so soon after the report of the death of Sarah, Isaac’s mother. Was it not possible to wait a while?
Isaac encounters his bride, and because of her he is comforted after the death of his mother. It seems that the only way he could deal with the anguish of being without a mother was through making a new beginning, creating a shared life, which brings hope and joy into our lives.
On one hand, our shared reality since October 7 brings us so many moments of horror, anxiety, and grief. But along with that, the amazing ability to return to a life of routine, to celebrate the holidays, to enjoy happy family gatherings, events, and celebrations is what gets our spirits moving and enables us to enjoy a modest measure of relief and comfort, the beginning of healing for the soul and hope for better days.
