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Why does the Midrash praise Avrohom for burying Sarah as an act of chesed (חסד) when any husband would bury his wife? Avrohom transformed Sarah's funeral from a private loss into a national, timeless event—minimizing his personal grief to highlight her communal impact, negotiating the Machpelah purchase publicly so attendees became witnesses to history rather than givers of condolence. This chesed elevated everyone present from mourners into recipients of privilege.
Rabbi Zweig addresses a perplexing Midrash on Parshas Chayei Sarah. The Midrash praises Avrohom for doing chesed (חסד) by burying Sarah, citing the verse about one who pursues tzedakah and chesed finding life, righteousness, and honor. Avrohom is rewarded with long life and white hair. But what chesed did Avrohom perform? Every husband is obligated to bury his wife—this seems like no special act of kindness. The Torah (תורה)'s narrative itself raises questions. Avrohom eulogizes Sarah before securing a burial place, which seems illogical. Worse, he conducts lengthy negotiations with the people of Chevron for the Machpelah cave while the entire community waits between the eulogy and burial. This appears tremendously inconsiderate—making hundreds of people wait hours while business is conducted, like making wedding guests wait for photos or funeral attendees wait while paperwork is signed.
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Bereishis 23 (Parshas Chayei Sarah)
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