Lead Tidbit
No Mitzvot, but...
There are no mitzvot of the 613 that are counted from Parshat Chayei Sara. In fact, 17 out of the Torah's 54 sedras do not contribute to the list of TARYAG. That's 31½% of the sedras. Nonetheless, many customs, practices, halachot, and Jewish behavior is learned from some of these no-mitzva sedras. Sometimes, that which we learn comes straight from the text, sometimes Midrashim contribute to the process. And sometimes, there the Torah will inspire an idea, without necessarily being considered a direct source for the particular issue. Chayei Sara is a good "case in point" for all of the above.

The command to bury our dead comes from Parshat Ki Teitzei in the context of how to handle the body of one executed by Beit Din for a capital offense. Yet it is unavoidable to see the opening portion of Chayei Sara as an inspiration and guide to Jewish funeral practices. Crying, eulogizing, preparing and burying one's departed loved one is beautifully presented.

The command to marry according to Jewish law is counted among Taryag elsewhere, but in Chayei Sara we have the other half of the G'ZEIRA SHAVA that teaches us the use of money or something of monetary value for the performance of a marriage. And we even find the specific favorite object of the marriage "transaction" - the gold ring. We learn about consulting a girl rather than marrying her off without her agreement. And we see from Avraham's actions and concerns how very important marriage is to the continuity of the Jewish People.

Chayei Sara gives us lessons in courtesy and hospitality, commitment.
We have the source of Mincha in Chayei Sara and of being able to get away from mundane things and talk to G-d.

We learn positive and negative things from the behavior of both Eliezer and Lavan. A mitzva-less sedra is far from empty.