By Rav Shaul Feldman | Director of Bnei Akiva of the US and Canada
What is life all about?
Strange name our Parhsa has this week… “Chayey Sara” Saras life!
When we start reading the Parsha, other than the first Pasuk which sums up her age. The entire topic referring to Sara is about her death and funeral arrangements. The obvious question is why is the name the Parsha the life of Sara shouldn’t it be the death of Sarah?
Perhaps Rashi’s answer to this question based on the language of the first Pasuk may give us an insight.
Rashi asks why did the Torah write the word “Shana” year after every date?
בראשית פרק כג
(1) ויהיו חיי שרה מאה שנה ועשרים שנה ושבע שנים שני חיי שרה:
Answers Rashi that the word repeating itself is to show us a consistent style in Sarah’s life time.
רש”י בראשית פרק כג
(א) ויהיו חיי שרה מאה שנה ועשרים שנה ושבע שנים – לכך נכתב שנה בכל כלל וכלל, לומר לך שכל אחד נדרש לעצמו, בת מאה כבת עשרים לחטא, מה בת עשרים לא חטאה, שהרי אינה בת עונשין, אף בת מאה בלא חטא, ובת עשרים כבת שבע ליופי:
שני חיי שרה – כלן שוין לטובה:
It didn’t matter what age she was and what challenges she was facing in each stage she was very consistent in her goodness. That’s why Sara was Zoche that when she died she is buried in the first land that was acquired by Abraham.
The story of this week’s Parsha is all about the life of Sarah as when you live a life filled with consistent focus on your Goals even at time of death you are considered alive. Chazal fraise that in one sentence in Masechet Brachot:
תלמוד בבלי מסכת ברכות דף יח עמוד א
צדיקים שבמיתתן נקראו חיים
Shabbat shalom
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