Modern Masters: Kiryat Arba, Chevron: Eternal Connections | Rabbi Sam Shor | November 13th 2025

Good afternoon everybody. Welcome. We are going to do something a little bit uh a little bit different than what we've done the past couple weeks. We again this is our modern masters class. Today we're going to hear from three modern masters and specifically we're you know it's we're looking ahead to Shabas and everyone's head is focused on tens of thousands of Jews. Rabbi Burman wrote about in his total this week about tens of thousands of Jews coming on Shabas in in Kirat Arbon. And so today we're going to take a look at Kirat Aron to better understand what the city this ancient city the sign significance of this ancient city and more specifically the significance of the two names by which the city is called Kiryad Arba and now today Kirat Arba is the modern Yeshu just outside of biblical and then there's also biblical but in the Torah if you take a look right on your source We'll dive right in. Okay, we know that we first hear about this place after the passing of and the Torah tells us these are the years of Sarah's life. 100 years and 20 years and seven years were the years of Sarah's life. Cananan and Sara died where in Kirat Araba that's also known as in the land of Kanan and Rashi on the spot if you take a look at text number two on your sheets. Okay, Rashi says the five sides labeled as bet on the sheets. I'm sorry alim it was called Arba. Why? Because there were four giants that lived there. That's one opinion. And then Rashi brings a second opinion alik. It's name called because it's going to be the place where what four couples are going to be buried there. Who are the four couples that are ultimately buried in in in who are the four couples and S and then right then >> right? So the medish tells us is the fourth couple right with the three three zugos of of of aos and of course rau is not buried there was buried in uh in but um we're also told by the medish that that were also buried there okay so why care so rashi gives us one two interpretations in terms of why the place was called Kiryad Arba. Either it corresponds to the four giants that lived in town or corresponds to those four those four zot those four couples that would eventually be buried there. Okay. The oh who is a great master some learned about him the other day inim right? So the oh freeman of not on your sheets by the way I'm just going to share a short piece from the hiati he was a shar aliyah to Eric Israel in 1938 lived the last 19 years of his life in downtown Tel Aviv he has a a beautiful insight about about what the name kiryat arba means he says it's not like what rashi says rashi says oh it's a rem is an illusion to the fact that there were four giants that live there or that there before pairs who will be buried there. Listen to his words. He says we could understand the le as soba. He says don't read which means what the the place or the the place of the four but rather but where she read or recited for. What is a for? So okay what what does that refer to the in the word meaning S passed away there and she said hashem so the the arba what's the fourth letter in the Hebrew alphabet dalin so kirat arba he says don't read it the word kiryad arba but rather kat arba that sar passed away there and just before she passed away what did she do? She recited like and becomes the Israel. Right. Right. Then before a Jew passes away we say the word is he says it's it's meaning that her soul departed as she we recited the word just as we learn from whom the famous story of Rebaka. It's very interesting. He points out that there's a zohar that says that the the the here is referring to the la the last four words of of that hashem. So arba can either mean a reference to the dalid which is the fourth letter at the end of the pk or it can mean a reference to those last four words the declaration that what hashemu hashem okay and then he continues that he found a hidden a not so well-known medi that describes this this idea and he says okay that the medra says what does it mean that she It means she died while she was reciting that really the so basically what we learn from this that really the name of the place is that is a reference to what all these that say that sorry declared her faith and full trust in as she departed this world that she gave of her soul. Okay. She gave of her life with pure ms nephesh. Okay. So that's the aliakov. He takes takes it in a totally different direction than than rashi. Rashi says the place is called kirat arba because it refers to these two the four giants of the four pairs. While the oh our first modern master of the day he suggests no that refers to sara. Okay that s in her dying moments when she died in a place called okay she recites crashes. Okay fine. So is now going to talk in our next piece zatal is now going to talk about the other name the name of itself. Okay. What is the significance of the name? This is gimmel on our sheets and and see where it says betron. Okay. We find the was uniquely sanctified for what? To be the burial place of our of the aos. And I see a reason for this says he says the significance of of that place is that metaphysically is a place where we prepare to become whole. the Jewish people find begin their journey. Okay? And he's going to explain this to becoming whole. That's why when he begins his career as the king, where does he where does his rule begin? when he's residing in that in order to what to prepare himself to become the king over the whole entire people Jewish people in which is the place of Hashem that it was that that you that was already established with for with sanctity for eternity even to the present present today. But throughout our preparation to be able to become who we're meant to be as a people and to greet, what do we need to hold on to? What do we need to hold tight to the merit of the generations that came before us? And that's why was chosen as the place where a will be buried. The represents what the power of joining together of coming together of the coming together theor the joining together of all the generations and create that's why it's called because it refers to what this idea of or joined together of feeling attached you're connected to it's also called right so also refers to the other name the name of it and refers to those two midrash we said earlier that that it refers to the four pairs that are buried there including and now look what he says here and that's why it's called that we have to feel connected to all the generations of our ancestors. And when we feel connected to all those ancestors comes forth one Torah, not only the Torah that we learn from this from our three avotes and their wise, but also the the human intellect which enables us to interpret the Torah. And who do we learn human inherit human intellect from? from and therefore they're included here and therefore we have the capacity the Jewish people the capacity to be a light unto all the nations and that's our role and to remind us of that in addition to the aot being buried there and we have to stay connected the kibbor to the aot we also have to stay connected to whom to arisha which reminds is what that we have a responsibility not only to the Jewish people but to all humanity. So is called to remind us that we have to feel that connection in order for us to become whom we're meant to be terms of being a light to the nations. We have to feel that not only with aos but also with Adam who are buried there as well. Okay. So now so far we've heard from Yale Yakov in Rafkuk. We're now going to hear from hear from our third modern master of the of the afternoon and this is going to be a much more significant longer piece. This is a beautiful teaching from Rabbi Mosha Wilson. Rabbi Mosha Wilson this on the on the left side of the page. Rabbi Mosha Wilson was for many many years, decades, the Mashkia, the spiritual um guide of the students in Yeshiva Tarvadas in Brooklyn, New York. He also was a rebi even though he never called himself an admiring a large community called Amuna in both in Brooklyn, New York as well as here in Betar Elite where he would spend part of his year. And so Rabbi Wilson in his beautiful known as he he also is going to talk about the significance of and what we're supposed to learn by these names of of being connected to the earlier generations but also the name of the burial place being called which means what a double cave or a hidden cave right to be kil means to be double and a marat is a cave. So the marath means that it's a cave that's double a cave within a cave a hidden cave if you will. Okay. So he this beautiful piece and powerful piece of Rabbi Wilson is going to begin by listing six different midrashim okay six different kazal connected to the significance of this place okay marat. So we're just this is dollar on our sheets on the left hand side of the column and we're going to just we're just going to start in the in the many midrash the many holy works there's a debate in terms of why this place what's the importance why is this place so important this place marat now he's going to start listing all the all the significance that are kazal state are associated with this place. The first idea is what that from is the entry to Ghana. And now here's the second idea over and all the will pass from this world into where through that's why it's called the why why in in his exchange with with with Ephron should pass before to here to do your to do your commerce that they'll pass from there to a place of of ultimate calm. Okay, which means what? And the avot continue, says another magish, what to dive in on behalf of the the Jewish people that they should experience salvation even to this very day. The aos continue to dive in there on behalf of the salvation of the Jewish people. take off by Mashiach and if all three of the would dive in together for the salvation of the Jewish people then immediately what's going to happen Msiah will come so what how do we understand this >> why wouldn't it >> ah right good and then then it continues okay here's the next idea all of the pass through there and then he says quotes zar So now again there's let's start let's review six different ideas introduced by the med number one idea is what that it's the entry to Ghana Eden number two idea is that what that all the nishamos will pass through there the third idea is that the aos continue to dive in there for the salvation of the Jewish people the fourth idea is that if All the dav together, we'd immediately experience a msiah. And the fifth idea is that all theos go the marat. Okay. So now he's going to bring a zer and he's going to start to answer all of our questions related to these various ideas introduced by the mazal. He says the idea that it's called a double cave. Okay. Or or or it's double. It's a pair. It refers to So the first idea he says is what? That metaphysically this place the is part of a pairing with where? with. Okay. And now he's going to explain this. And if that's true, says Rabbi Wilson, how do we understand the idea that's introduced by the by by the medish that theos pass through? He says what we're told earlier and we all know that theos go towards you and they because when Jaku has his dream we're told this is the entry to heaven this is the gate to heaven so if all the are meant to go to how do we understand what the we just learned says that what that the pass through through and then he asked another question and we also have to understand He says if that's true that pass through then why don't we turn towards when we dive in in the same way that we do no matter where are Jew is in the world what kun what what what way direction do we face when we when we dive in we turn towards so If if the medish is true according to the med if we're to understand this medish correctly why he says why don't we dive in facing all the pass there okay really from this is the fact we said the coel is the closest one to to that it's it it starts from there where right that's he's saying exactly what he's Okay. So now he's going to start to answer some of these questions. We'll see. Please with God's help and are really one entity. Even though they're really one entity, they also represent what? polar opposites of that of extremes of that one entity. Okay. Now, he's gonna explain this is a place that Hashem chose to be a place where his presence will be revealed for everyone to experience and see. Okay? That he'll reveal his presence. Okay? and his presence will be felt. And we're told that that place in the m in the base of mikdash there were always 10 constant miracles. And on on that mountain, Hashem revealed himself to us that and there at the mikdash. Hashem reveals himself and appears to the entire before the entire Jewish people. The significance the sanctity of this place is connected to whom the three aot why before we read in Rab Wilson why do you think why do you think Rabbi Wilson saying that is is holy because it's connected to the three aot what do you think >> what's so significant about the aos and their connection to >> a connection with based on >> English Yeah. So what's the connection? So look what he says. He says okay. Okay. There. So a first person to d at the makdash when he comes there. Okay. And then the Yakov Khazar Shani Pelakuai and Yakov when he comes to that place and before he has his dream right he dabs there also. Why? Because and he has a prophetic prophetic vision. And why does he why does he move to dav in there? Because he he realizes what that this is a place that my father and grandfather before me daven here as well. And then he says another idea. wrote to the and now in subsequent to the in subsequent generations the Jewish people every single one of us we have a mitz ali of going to that same place and being connected each of us in our own way tapping into the spiritual power represented by the aos so that's the idea of the place where the aos had their connection to during their lifetimes And so too we go to aliyah reel says rabbi Mosha Wilson there's a mitzah for us to go during our lifetimes to feel connected to the presence of the aos that's what is the >> oh that's not true we have a we have a medish that says that actually died during the the m of thea and experiences and he stands up after after he's come back to life and who he composes which that we say every single day three times a day. Okay. So, so now continue and what? So, so is significant because it's connected to aos and most specifically it's connected to the aos who all dive in there during their lifetime. So, what's the sign? Again, we're talking about that they're two bookends to the same entity. That's what Rabbi Wilson just introduced, right? There's and there's so what's what's the and represents the polar opposite represents the place where the aos want to experience revelation okay and closest to God and they express their their revelation by composing us that we continue to recite And if you represents us going there to visit in order to experience that same kind of connection and feeling Hashan's presence in the same way the aos did well is a polar opposite because what is not where the aos uh went during their lifetime. So the aos went okay for their eternal life right they're hidden there. They're buried there okay in a hidden cave within another cave. there. Okay. What is the significance of of each of the subsequent generations said I want to be buried with my ancestors? It's the exact opposite of the place where my ancestors dain. No, I want to be buried together with them. Okay. Represents what? Divine protection, supervision, revelation, Jewish life in the highest form. And it but the mar represents the complete opposite. It represents what? The final resting resting place. A place devoid of life where the aos are re continue to lay at rest. Okay. So that's the introduction. But now he's going to take this a step further. He's going to begin to answer most of our questions. I think an in reality each one of us what is connected, okay, is part of what we call the AOS because we're their descendants. Okay. There was a time in history where they were the they and their immediate families were what? The only Jews in the world. Okay? And they you could count their descendants, you know, from within their own households. But now it's the opposite. The live on where? Within us. And every single Jew what has within them? What? A little bit >> of the Aos. No, not just a that's a nama. Each one of us has a little bit what in our DNA. were descendants from the aos. Okay. And now he says a beautiful idea. This is something we talked about many many times this year that every that every single human being is a microcosmic world. And if that's true, if that's true, so what does that mean? Rabbi Wilson's going to explain this. Take a look what he says. Mesh Gambo. If that's true, says Rabbi Wolson, if every single one of us is a microcosmic world, the human being, each human being is a microcosmic world. That means that everything that exists in the physical world, okay, exists, exists metaphysically, okay, within the microcosmic world of the human being. And therefore, if there's a marata, if there's a hidden cave, okay, where the aos reside or for eternal life within the physical world, then there must be what? A hidden cave within the metaphysical world of of the human being. Listen what he says. And that's true. Every human being being is a microcosmic world and there exists a in the physical world. It means that what we can take from this that there's a so to speak a proverbial that exists metaphysically within the hearts of every single one of us. This is represents the the presence of the and their holiness. Okay. Is innate within every single one of us. But we can't feel that or see that. Why? Because it's buried deep within us. Okay? Within the double cave deep within us. the proverbial double cave within us. And when a Jews and what happens if the aos if there's a within us and the medish tells us that the aos continue to dive in for the Jewish people what's it referring to it's not talking about inas physical world it's talking about what the proverbial within every single one of us that when we dive in we need to tap into the the kaduca the aos okay it's to make It be is if theos are ding with us. If a person that means they're ding with the aos because it's the aos who established with as we learn in the gumar and therefore when we dive in we're diving with the assistance of that aspect le aos that's innate within every single one of us. And that's why when the put together the what's the first of the okay that's why that's the first okay and that that a person through that first braha a person becomes connected to the aos that present the aos that's a nameate within them and their join together and lift up our own felos. Okay, and that's the idea that's introduced by the medish. We we mentioned earlier that all the pass through the it's not that they go that we turn towards the in the physical world. what that is passed through the innate the proverbial mara innate within our hearts of every single Jew and by the way just I'm putting here in parentheses here we're going to learn a quick rama before we finish this ma from uh from Rabbi Wilson okay the very the says the most beautiful idea he says okay we all that if a person doesn't but this is emperic this is emperic Good imperil the rah says the same thing okay that if a person doesn't have kavana in any in any you have to go back and and d again so so far here in y the first line here is consistent with what he says in paragal except now he gives us an a caveat what's the caveat but if you have in the first so if I lose inh uh uh you know okay I I don't have to go back when do I when I have to go back if I don't have in the first and we just learned why why is the first braha so significant because it reminds us that that it's not just we have the opportunity not when we d it's not just that we're ding it's that we are bringing and invoking aos the aos are ding together with us and we have this beautiful med that says if the aos dive in all of them together then we can experience Yeshua and that should be our goal and feel the ra that's what the ra is he doesn't say it but that's what's hinted at in this ra okay so now let's finish up the beautiful piece of rabbi Wilson but this idea of the aos of the marasa being within us of the aos being within us this is totally spiritual it's not something we can see it's not something we can feel It's totally it's totally it's totally metaphysical. Okay. And spirituality the metaphysical that's not connected to any it's not stuck in any one place and it's not limited to any one place. Okay. Even though we know that there's a physical place, okay, where the are buried in that's only necessary because it was a necessity. They had a place where where their where their bodies are treated respectfully and they could be hidden away and and tucked away safely. nears but even that place there's no we don't have any any actual kev we don't know where their farm are you go there today there's an edifice that's been built but that's cuz Herod built this massive edifice upon it and there are are quote unquote um mata you know memorial stones that the Arabs built and designated and put the names of the alas but it has nothing to do with their actual resting places he says you go there even there in place that's supposedly a place of their physical resting. There's no there's no physical we can't see a physical grave. We only just we know that somewhere on the ground there's a there's a burial cave and even in that first cave when you go into it's called even if we were to walk into that first cave we wouldn't find there what the resting places of of our ancestors we had to rather what when you go to that he that mara you'll hopefully be able to see that there's another cave within that mar and from there you could gaze in and maybe maybe you'd be able to find that's why it's called a dual cave a double cave a cave within a cave and there's another opinion that says what not a cave within a cave but a cave on top of a cave under a cave one cave under the other. Okay. Okay. A hiding place within a hiding place, a hidden within the hidden. And just as in the physical world just as in the physical world we can't the our aos their resting place is hidden from us and we can't see it and we can't actually see their graves. So too within the spiritual side within the hearts of every single Jew. Okay. that the presence of of theos are hidden within every single one of us. Okay? We want to come close and we can emotionally we can come close even we and we can tap into that energy emotionally spiritually even if what we can't see them and we can't feel their presence physically but we can experience their presence emotionally, metaphysically, spiritually. So, Rabbi Wilson takes all these midashim and he gives us a recipe for what why is it called? Because the marath means it's a it's a cave that has dual significance. Number one, it's a the idea that it's connected to and they it represents polar polar opposites of the same entity. Represents the place where we tap into the aos and the legacy aos in their lifetimes and represents what? tapping into the energy of the resting place of aos. We also talked about how the the dual cave represents what the idea that if everything anything that exists in the physical world also exists metaphysically within the world of the human being and therefore there's a cave within a cave hidden within the hearts of every single Jew and that the the aos are within that cave that means that within every single one of us there is an accuda there is a spark of the aos that exists within us and therefore when we dive in what we have the opportunity to dive in together with the ava which is the idea of the aos ding for the Jewish people doesn't mean that they're ding in their resting place in the physical world means what every time we dive and the aos are ding together with us that's why the made the first of to be theos as the ra says that's the most important brah as long as you have kavana and that braha you don't have to repeat anything else why because it's all about tapping into the spiritual legacy of the aos and being elevated. Okay. In terms of our by that connection we can feel to the proverbial within us that that joining together that connection that is to the generations that came before us in order that what we can be elevated spiritually. Our spiritual conscience can be elevated to emulate the ways of sariu that not only in the way she lived her life but even in the last moments of her life her soul departs okay the creat okay with the recitation of it's all about what arba all these names based on everything we learned together from these three modern masters this morning teach us what that our mandate is to emulate the ways of the imostoshas to emulate the ways to lift ourselves spiritually, emotionally, metaphysically to emulate the ways of the to come closer to the ribon shalom. And if we're able to do that, if all of us collectively can feel that can feel that connection, can recognize that the the power of the alos innate within every single one of us can can elevate ouros. And the last piece that Rabbi Wilson doesn't come out and say and that's the the one that is we didn't come back to and that is that through that davening we'll experience the Yeshua if every single member of Israel could indeed feel that inner connection okay that's rooted in the aasim if we could feel it and re recognize within us we can achieve anything because what we're descendants I'm talking about giants talking about the four giants we're descendants of giants okay innate within In us is the nuda of the and if we can tap into that then we can indeed achieve anything and we can indeed and will indeed experience Yeshua. Have a great sh