Parashat Chayei Sarah includes the first instance of public grieving in the Torah, when Abraham mourns the loss of his wife. Public grief is a feature of human society, allowing communities to collectively process loss and seek solace in each other. Additionally, besides creating a container for the emotions of the moment, public mourning allows a society to reflect on its deepest commitments and noblest aspirations. Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address achieved all this and more in a few short paragraphs.
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