TORAH PORTION

“Sarah died…Avraham buried Sara his wife in the cave of the field of Makhpela, facing Mamre—; that is Hebron…”

Genesis 23:2,19

 This week’s parshah, Chayei Sarah, contains the passing of the first two Jews, Sarah and Abraham. Abraham purchases Maarat haMakhpela—the Cave of the Patriarchs located in Hebron—in which he, Sarah, as well as the Patriarchs and many of the other Matriarchs will be buried. 

Our Rabbis tell us that when Jacob was on his deathbed, he asked his sons to make sure that his body would be laid to rest in Hebron. When they arrived at the cave to bury their father, Esau—Jacob’s wicked brother—was there waiting in ambush. As it turns out, there was only one plot left in the cave and Esau wanted it for himself. A duel then ensued, and Esau’s head was cut off. It was then entombed in the Cave of the Patriarchs, and his body was sent elsewhere to be buried (see Pirkei D’Rabbi Eliezar 39, and Talmud Bavli Sotah13a). 

The Hasidic Master, the Sefat Emet (1847-1905), found a special lesson in this story. Esau’s head and body had different destinies due to the difference between his intentions and actions. Although Esau wished to become a better person, he never did so. Thus, his head—where his thoughts of repentance resided—deserved to be buried alongside his righteous family. But, as he never acted upon his intentions, his actions—which were performed with his body—remained wicked, which is why the rest of him was buried elsewhere (Sefat Emet Toldot 14).

For us, the message is clear. While what we do stems from what we think, if we do not take the initiative to bring those thoughts into fruition, those potential actions die when we do.

There is a commonly known rabbinic teaching that the sworn enemy of the Jewish people, the nation of Amalek, was descended from Esau. But, as there are no Amalekites today, how are supposed to wipe Amalek out? According to the Sefat Emet, Amalek represents Jewish infighting, and the only way to destroy Amalek is through fostering Jewish unity (Sefat Emet, Shemot, Purim). 

Reading these two teachings of the Sefat Emet in light of one another, we see that we are required to stand up and show up on behalf of the Jewish people. Maybe you’ve been thinking of reaching out to someone but haven’t. Maybe you keep saying “I’ll go to services next week” but before you know it, Rosh Hashanah rolls around again. Or perhaps you’ve wanted to volunteer, give tzedakah (charity), teach your children Hebrew, or speak up when you hear veiled—or blatant—antisemitism but remained silent.

As Jews—as citizens of the world—we are called upon to actualize our intentions. To “put our money where our thoughts are” so to speak. It is not always easy, but if you’re already thinking good thoughts, you’re already halfway there!

Sonia and I wish you a week in which you actualize your good intentions,

Rabbi Cody R. Bahir, Ph.D.