Parshat Chayei Sarah

For the week ending 27 Cheshvan 5760; 5 & 6 November 1999

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Contents:

Parsha Questions

Kasha

I Did Not Know That!

Recommended Reading List

Answers to Parsha Questions

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Parsha Questions

Answers | Contents

1. Name the four couples buried in Kiryat Arba.
2. What did Sara hear that caused her death?
3. What title of honor did the B’nei Chet bestow upon Avraham?
4. Where was Avraham born?
5. How were Avraham’s camels distinguished?
6. What is meant by "all the good of his master in his hand?"
7. What special character trait did Eliezer seek when choosing a wife for Yitzchak?
8. Why did Avraham’s servant, Eliezer, run toward Rivka?
9. Why did Lavan run to greet Eliezer?
10. When Lavan told Eliezer that the house was cleared out, what did he remove?
11. Who did Eliezer want Yitzchak to marry?
12. Aside from Eliezer, to which other people did Rivka offer to give water?
13. Lavan answered Eliezer before his father, Betuel, had a chance. What does this indicate about Lavan’s character?
14. What did Rivka mean when she said "I will go?"
15. What blessing did Rivka’s family give her before she departed?
16. Who was Ketura?
17. What gift did Avraham give to Yitzchak?
18. How old was Avraham when he died?
19. For how many years did Yaakov attend the Yeshiva of Ever?
20. How many times is Eliezer’s name mentioned in this week’s Parsha?

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Kasha

(kasha means "question")

How would you answer this question on the Parsha?

By giving the camels water, Rivka demonstrated her sharp intelligence, plus her sensitivity to the feelings of others. How so?

ANSWER

Rivka had a dilemma. She couldn’t bring home a jug of water from which Eliezer, a total stranger, had drunk. But if she spilled out the water, Eliezer would be embarrassed. She solved the dilemma by giving the water to the camels.

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I Did Not Know That!

"And he gave straw...for the camels...and food was placed before him to eat." (24:32-33)

From here we learn that a person should feed his animals before he himself eats.

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Recommended Reading List

Ramban 22:9 The Cave of Machpela 24:1 Blessed in all Things 24:64 Rivka’s Modesty 25:8 Full of Years

Sforno 24:14 Prayer or Divination 24:65 The Awe of Yitzchak 25:8 Avraham’s Death

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Answers to this Week's Questions

Questions | Contents

All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated

1. Name the four couples buried in Kiryat Arba.
   23:2 - Adam and Chava, Avraham and Sara, Yitzchak and Rivka, Yaakov and Leah.

2. What did Sara hear that caused her death?
   23:2 - That Yitzchak was almost slaughtered.

3. What title of honor did the B’nei Chet bestow upon Avraham?
   23:6 - Prince of G-d.

4. Where was Avraham born?
   24:7 - Ur Kasdim.

5. How were Avraham’s camels distinguished?
   24:10 - They were muzzled, so they wouldn’t graze in the fields of others.

6. What is meant by "all the good of his master in his hand?"
   24:10 - Eliezer carried a document in which Avraham gave all he owned to Yitzchak so that people would want their daughter to marry him.

7. What special character trait did Eliezer seek when choosing a wife for Yitzchak?
   24:14 - He sought someone who excelled in performing acts of kindness.

8. Why did Avraham’s servant, Eliezer, run toward Rivka?
   24:17 - He saw that the waters of the well rose when she approached.

9. Why did Lavan run to greet Eliezer?
   24:29 - Lavan coveted his money.

10. When Lavan told Eliezer that the house was cleared out, what did he remove?
    24:31 - Idols.

11. Who did Eliezer want Yitzchak to marry?
    24:39 - His own daughter.

12. Aside from Eliezer, to which other people did Rivka offer to give water?
    24:44 - To the men who accompanied Eliezer.

13. Lavan answered Eliezer before his father, Betuel, had a chance. What does this indicate about Lavan’s character?
    24:50 - That he was wicked.

14. What did Rivka mean when she said "I will go?"
    24:58 - I will go even if you don’t want me to go.

15. What blessing did Rivka’s family give her before she departed?
    24:60 - That the blessings given to Avraham would continue through her children.

16. Who was Ketura?
    25:1 - Hagar.

17. What gift did Avraham give to Yitzchak?
    25:5 - The power of blessing.

18. How old was Avraham when he died?
    25:7 - 175 years old.

19. For how many years did Yaakov attend the Yeshiva of Ever?
    25:17 - 14 years.

20. How many times is Eliezer’s name mentioned in this week’s Parsha?
    None!

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Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane & Rabbi Reuven Subar
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
Production Design: Eli Ballon

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