KosherKidz: Chayei Sarah

In Chayei Sarah we say goodbye to Sarah Imaynu, the first matriach, and welcome the second, Rivkah. I appreciate how when one door closes the next opens.

Last year my blog focused on Elizer seeking a wife for Yitzchak and meeting Rivka at the well. We learned the story and made a 'large' well. The girls loved it and it made a deep impression on them, as this year they were able to recount the story and experience.

This year we turned our attention to the relationship between Yitzchak and his new wife.

67. And Yizchak brought her to the tent of Sarah his mother, and he took Rivka, and she became his wife, and he loved her. And Yizchak was comforted after [the loss of] his mother.

סז. וַיְבִאֶהָ יִצְחָק הָאֹהֱלָה שָׂרָה אִמּוֹ וַיִּקַּח אֶת רִבְקָה וַתְּהִי לוֹ לְאִשָּׁה וַיֶּאֱהָבֶהָ וַיִּנָּחֵם יִצְחָק אַחֲרֵי אִמּוֹ:

Sure, it is only one passuk, but a lot can be learned from it. To me, the word 'ahava', love, speaks volumes. It is the first time the Torah uses this word for the relationship between a man and a woman.
I asked the girls about the part following the love.
"How does Rivka comfort Yitzchak?" I asked.
"Well, he was lonely after his Ema died," Gabi suggested.
"And he need someone around," Cohava added.
"For what?"
"Uh- tefillah?" Cohava asked.
"Well, tefillah is nice with a group, with a minyan, but is Rivka going to help make the minyan?" I asked.
"No, that for boys. Rivka make him feel better with girl mitzvot," Gabi suggest.
"Like?"
"She lit candles," Cohava said.
"And made challah, and yummy food," Gabi chimed in.
"Thank you Rashi!" I cheered. And then I explained how Rashi shares the same idea from Bereshiet Rabba.

to the tent of Sarah his mother: He brought her to the tent, and behold, she was Sarah his mother; i.e., she became the likeness of Sarah his mother, for as long as Sarah was alive, a candle burned from one Sabbath eve to the next, a blessing was found in the dough, and a cloud was attached to the tent. When she died, these things ceased, and when Rebecca arrived, they resumed (Gen. Rabbah 60:16)
.

האהלה שרה אמו: ויביאה האהלה ונעשית דוגמת שרה אמו, כלומר והרי היא שרה אמו, שכל זמן ששרה קיימת היה נר דלוק מערב שבת לערב שבת, וברכה מצויה בעיסה, וענן קשור על האהל, ומשמתה פסקו, וכשבאת רבקה חזרו:

We discussed how we cannot ever make a holy cloud, some weeks we make challah, but every week we light shabbat candles.

We talked about how special candle lighting is, how uttering the bracha changes the day and changes the world. We discussed why there are two (or more) candles and how following the bracha is a special time for personal prayer.

And then we decorated candlesticks.

Ikea has some super cheap and nifty candle holders which work either way. One side holds a tea light. Upside down holds a tall shabbat candle in a foil holder. Suits everyone, right?

With some permanent markers the girls got to work.