My Weekly Drash (a mini D'var Torah) -- Chayei Sarah
Posted by Daniel M. Kimmel on October 31, 2007 | Tags: Chayei Sarah
In Chayyei Sarah we get something that seems like a merely descriptive sentence setting the scene: “And Isaac went out walking in the field toward evening…” (Gen. 24:63). The rabbis felt otherwise. They noted the similarity between the Hebrew words “suach” (to walk) and “siach” (to talk, to pray), and interpreted this to mean Isaac was meditating or talking to God. Eventually Isaac would be credited with instituting Minhah, the afternoon prayer service. An observant Jew is supposed to pray three times a day, but if that seems overwhelming, daily observance of Minhah is a good place to start. The weekday Minhah consists of three things you probably already know: Ashrei, the Amidah, and Aleinu. (If you’re ambitious – or pious -- Tahannun is often included.) If you can’t make a regular weekday minyan you might consider emulating Isaac: go into a field, or simply close your office door, and take a few quiet minutes to reconnect with something larger than your workaday concerns. You may not find Rebecca at the end of your prayers as Isaac did, but you’ll be better for it just the same.
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Daniel M. KimmelJoined: October 2, 2007 Daniel M. Kimmel is a Boston area film critic, lecturer and author. He does these weekly mini-lessons for the Mishkan Tefila Brotherhood's newsletter. You are free to use them for similar purposes. Divrei Torah (117) |
