There are many ways to affect a financial acquisition in Halacha. One of these ways, called chazakah, is found in Parshas Chaye Soroh. When one uses property in a way that only an owner would use it, he acquires it from the former owner (obviously only with his consent). The passuk states after Avrohom buried Soroh, “the field entered Avrohom’s possession.” The Midrash comments that it entered his possession by means of the burial, which constitutes a chazakah.

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Rabbi Aharon Dovid Singer
Rosh Kollel, NMB Kollel
Director, South Florida Torah Initiative