Buried Alive!

"When Jacob finished instructing his sons, he drew his feet onto the bed;he expired and was gathered to his people"(Gen. 49:33). While by Abraham, the Torah explicitly states:"And Abraham expired and died (Gen. 25:8), and by Isaac as well,"And Isaac expired and died"(Gen 35:29), the Torah does not tell us anywhere that Jacob died. From this we can logically conclude that Jacob did not in fact die. Jacob was embalmed, and eulogized and buried but he didn't die?
In Jeremiah 30:10, G-d speaks directly to Jacob:"But as for you, do not fear, My servant, Jacob, the word of Hashem, and do not be afraid, Israel; for behold, I am saving you from distant places and your descendants from the land of their captivity..." From this prophecy, we see that the future redemption of the Jewish people, Jacob's descendants, will take place simultaneously with Jacob's personal redemption. So Jacob remains in the same state of spiritual living in this world as his descendants. In other words, the continued spiritual survival of the Jewish people is essentially linked to the continued spiritual existence of Jacob's soul in this world.
From this we see the importance of focusing on the good side of every Jew and emphasizing their connection to G-d, the true source of life. Because by doing this, we are seeing their true value as descendants of Jacob and the fulfilment of Jeremiah's prophecy that Moshiach is coming to redeem a living Jewish people along with their living ancestor Jacob.

Based on the Talks of the Lubavitcher Rebbe

When the Angels come calling...

Following his circumcision, Avraham is all of a sudden visited by three "men"(Gen. 18:2), who later in the text are revealed to be angels (Gen. 19:1). These angels come to tell Avraham that he and Sarah are finally going to have a son together. But their opening remark is puzzling: "They said to him,"Where is Sarah your wife?"(Gen. 18:6). Why do the angels need to know where Sarah is in order to fufill their mission?
Our sages point out to us that it is proper conduct for a guest to inquire as to the welfare of the host as well as the host's wife.  At this critical juncture in the birth of the Jewish people, the Torah is teaching us about politeness? Yes, just like a soul cannot function alone in this world without a body, so also a spiritual lifestyle must be accompanied with a respect and endearment for those around them. Bringing down G-d's light to the wold also involves nourishing the emotional and personal needs of those with which one is involved.
It's evident that all of Avraham and Sarah's lives have led up to this moment. Their legacy and work can only be preserved in the way of a son like Yitzchak. If they can transfer their ideals to the next generation, it means that they have connected to the ultimate truth, which is eternal. This truth can only be fostered in an environment of warmth and caring, where every guest receives the attention they deserve, and the host and hostess are recognized and thanked for their efforts.