Chayei Sarah. Spirituality Every Day

Hayei Sarah: Sarah’s Tent

When Isaac marries Rebecca, we read this interesting passuk:

“Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah, and she was his wife.

He loved her, and Isaac found comfort after his mother’s [death].” (24:67)

סז וַיְבִאֶ֣הָ יִצְחָ֗ק הָאֹ֨הֱלָה֙ שָׂרָ֣ה אִמּ֔וֹ וַיִּקַּ֧ח אֶת־רִבְקָ֛ה וַתְּהִי־ל֥וֹ לְאִשָּׁ֖ה וַיֶּֽאֱהָבֶ֑הָ וַיִּנָּחֵ֥ם יִצְחָ֖ק אַֽחֲרֵ֥י אִמּֽוֹ׃

This verse teaches us that Isaac’s relationship with Rebecca is one of love. Additionally, we hear how their marriage offers Isaac a sense of closure, relief, and healing for the pain and loneliness that he has experienced since his mother’s passing, three years earlier. But why does the text mention that “Isaac then brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah”? Why is this detail relevant?

Rashi comments (based upon Midrash Bereshit Rabba):

האהלה שרה אמו. וַיְבִיאֶהָ הָאֹהֱלָה וְנַעֲשֵׂית דֻּגְמַת שָׂרָה אִמּוֹ, כְּלוֹמַר וַהֲרֵי הִיא שָׂרָה אִמּוֹ, שֶׁכָּל זְמַן שֶׁשָּׂרָה קַיֶּמֶת הָיָה נֵר דָּלוּק מֵעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת לְעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת וּבְרָכָה מְצוּיָה בָּעִסָּה וְעָנָן קָשׁוּר עַל הָאֹהֶל, וּמִשֶּׁמֵּתָה פָּסְקוּ, וּכְשֶׁבָּאת רִבְקָה חָזְרוּ

INTO HIS MOTHER SARAH’S TENT — He brought her into the tent, and she became the image of his mother Sarah … For whilst Sarah was living, she had a light burning from one Sabbath eve to the next, there was always a blessing in the dough and a cloud was “tied” above the tent, but since her death all these had stopped. When Rebecca came, they reappeared.