"עֵפֶרֹן הַחִתִּי לְאַבְרָהָם... אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת שֶׁקֶל כֶּסֶף עֹבֵר לַסֹּחֵר" “Ephron the Hittite said to Abraham... four hundred shekels of silver, negotiable currency.” (Genesis 23:16) When Abraham insists on paying full price for the Cave of Machpelah, he does more than buy a burial plot. He establishes the moral foundation of Jewish presence in the Land. Ephron offers the field as a gift, but Abraham refuses. He will not take what is not rightfully his. He knows that a promise from God still demands integrity from human beings. The covenant is not a shortcut to ownership — it is a call to responsibility. The Torah emphasizes the transaction’s transparency — “עֹבֵר לַסֹּחֵר”, currency accepted by merchants — to show that Abraham’s acquisition is above reproach. The first Jewish claim to the Land is not made by force or favor, but by honest dealing. In a world that often rewards expedience, Abraham teaches that the sacred begins with integrity. Our future, like his, must be built not on gifts or grabs, but on the quiet strength of doing what is right — even when no one is watching.
Mark your calendars:
Thanksgiving Interfaith Service Monday, November 24⋅7:00 – 9:00pm (it is important we attend to show we are part of the community of faith)
New Series The Enigma of Isaac: Between Sacrifice and Serenity Wednesdays, December 3–24 at 8:00 PM on Zoom Isaac is the quietest of the patriarchs—and perhaps the most mysterious. Overshadowed by his father Abraham and his son Jacob, Isaac’s story is one of endurance, faith, and the quiet strength that sustains a people between generations. In this four-part course, we’ll explore Isaac’s life from the Binding to his final blessings, uncovering the spiritual power of restraint, the meaning of inherited trauma, and the sacred art of continuity.
Greenburgh Hebrew Center rabbistein@ghcny.org 515 Broadway Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 914-693-4260 office@ghcny.org www.ghcny.org
