Parashat Chayei Sarah: The Enduring Legacy

Good evening, everyone! 

As we begin the portion of Parshat Chayei Sarah, we often connect it with the passing of Sarah Emenu. Yet, interestingly, the Torah doesn't start by saying "she died." Instead, it begins with "Vayehi Chayei Sarah" - "The Lives of Sarah." This plural language, "Chayei," which always denotes plurality, hints at a profound truth. Our Sages teach us that Sarah had two lives:

• Her 127 years on this earth: Every single moment of this life was filled with purpose, dedicated to mitzvahs and positive actions. Her earthly existence was a testament to a life lived fully and meaningfully.

• Her continued life in spirit after death: Even after her physical body was no longer present, her spirit continued to live on.

This concept of "two lives" is further emphasized by the burial of our patriarchs and matriarchs in the Me'arat HaMachpelah. "Machpelah" means "double cave," symbolizing two layers – a lower and a higher one. This teaches us that in life, there are always two dimensions. The double layers of the Me'arat HaMachpelah symbolize the life after death, where the Neshama ascends to a higher level.

The Value of Every Moment

This teaches us the immense value of every single moment, every millisecond of life. I recall a powerful story from many years ago about a young man in America who was severely injured in an accident. He was completely paralyzed, lost the power of speech, and was sustained by machines. Doctors debated whether there was any point in continuing his life, as he was on a respirator and heart machine – essentially, living entirely on technology.

As they deliberated ending his life, a religious doctor present insisted, "There's no way we can end his life." At that very moment, the young man gave a slight flick of an eyelid. One doctor exclaimed, "Look! There is something alive in him!" They decided to keep him alive, and eventually, after a long rehabilitation, he recovered.

Later, he often shared his experience: "When you were talking about me, I heard every word. I wanted to scream aloud, 'Just let me live!' because every second I'm alive, my thoughts can connect to Hashem. There is positive energy going through me, and it doesn't matter what I suffer. A minute, a second in this world has tremendous value."

This illustrates a crucial point: the ability to act and think in this world is unique. In Olam Haba (the World to Come), the Neshama cannot act or think in the same way. However, our actions in this world, and how we continue the legacy of a deceased person, can give an Aliyah to their Neshama. When we are inspired by their qualities, learn from them, and promote what was important to them, we elevate their soul higher and higher. For instance, if a person was a great Torah scholar and taught many things, continuing their studies and emulating their actions gives a tremendous Aliyah to their Neshama.

This is the essence of what the Torah teaches us: Sarah Emenu continued living through the legacy she left in this world.

Abraham's Acceptance and Rivka's Legacy

The Torah further teaches us this concept when Avraham Avinu returns from the Akeidah (binding of Isaac). We are told "VaYavo Avraham" – he came back from Beer Sheva. The Midrash explains that Beer Sheva was just a stop on his way back from the Akeidah. The Torah tells us he came and "cried, livkote." Interestingly, the word "livkote" (to cry) has a small letter 'kaf.' Our Sages tell us this is because he didn't cry excessively.

Why the minimal crying? Avraham wanted to teach us that when the Holy One, Blessed be He, takes a beloved one back to Him, we must accept the divine decree. There is a limit to our grieving. Some explain that Avraham also wanted to teach that Sarah's death was not connected to the Akeidah. The Satan had come and given Sarah a vivid, though false, description of what transpired at Mount Moriah, leading to her passing. Avraham's restrained crying conveyed that he understood her death was Hashem's will, the appointed time had come, and it was not a consequence of his actions at the Akeidah. He never harbored misgivings or questioned Hashem, demonstrating his complete acceptance.

The greatness of Avraham Avinu was his unwavering faith. Even amidst this profound loss, he proceeded to purchase the Me'arat HaMachpelah from Ephron to bury his wife, never asking "Hashem, why did this happen to me?" He exemplified absolute trust and acceptance.

The idea of a righteous person continuing to live after death is further illuminated by Yitzchak's marriage to Rivka. Rivka was chosen because she embodied the same spirit of Chessed (kindness) as Sarah Emenu. When Yitzchak brought Rivka into his mother's tent, the three miracles that had been present in Sarah's tent returned: the special blessing in the dough (material blessings), the candle burning from Shabbat to Shabbat (spiritual blessings), and the divine cloud of protection. These miracles returning signify that by continuing their mother's way, it was as if she was living again. Everything came to life, demonstrating how we perpetuate the legacy of a deceased person.

The Power of Tefillah (Prayer)

In these days, we speak so much about the immense power of Tefillah. Every single prayer is so important to Hashem, and we never know when or how our prayers will be answered. I heard a remarkable story that happened this week with a group of soldiers in Gaza.

Our soldiers constantly plead for prayers, asking us to "daven" (pray) for them, learn Torah for them, and offer all our prayers whenever possible. They often fight at night, feeling more protected under the cover of darkness.

This week, three tanks had to advance into Gaza. Suddenly, the generals, observing from a protected house, saw all three tanks literally explode and catch fire. Panic ensued – "Have we lost 36 soldiers?" A few minutes later, a group of soldiers ran into the officers' house, exclaiming, "You won't believe what happened! Our first tank got stuck. We had no choice but to get out and couldn't repair it. We decided to escape and run, knowing we'd be easy targets if we stayed. The second and third tanks saw us running and also escaped. Right after we got out, the Arabs sent a missile, and all the tanks exploded!" The soldiers firmly believe this was a true miracle, attributed to the prayers of those learning Torah and davening for them.

Lessons from Eliezer's Prayer

Our Sages teach us a beautiful lesson from the story of Eliezer, Avraham's servant. His mission to find a wife for Yitzchak is repeated three times in the Torah with extensive detail: Avraham's instructions, Eliezer's arrival in Haran, and his recounting of events to Lavan. Why such repetition?

The general explanation is that "Yafah sichat avadim meiToratam shel banim" – "The simple talk of the servants of our forefathers is more beautiful than the Torah of the children." This means we can learn more from the actions and attitudes of our forefathers' servants than from certain Mitzvot (commandments) that are only hinted at in the written Torah. Eliezer's behavior offers profound lessons.

While Eliezer had a daughter whom he wished Yitzchak would marry, Avraham made it clear that a match was not possible due to their differing backgrounds. Yet, Eliezer, despite his personal desire, went with exceptional devotion and self-sacrifice, acting against his own interests. This is called "Shvirat Midot" – breaking one's own character traits and desires to serve a higher purpose. He sought only to fulfill his master's demands, demonstrating the ideal way to serve Hashem. This teaches us that if Eliezer could overcome his personal interests with such determination, we too can serve Hashem with immense sacrifice and overcome our own inclinations.

There's another beautiful explanation for "Yafah sichat avadim": "sicha" also means prayer. "Learn from the prayer of Eliezer." Eliezer teaches us about the special way a person must pray.

Consider the difference between Eliezer and Yaakov. Both sought a "shidduch" (match). Yaakov went to Haran, knowing a wife awaited him, feeling quite secure. Eliezer, however, ventured into the unknown. When Yaakov prayed on his journey, he returned to the place of prayer after initially forgetting, indicating his deep immersion in Torah study was a higher priority at that moment.

Eliezer, despite being immensely wealthy from Avraham, and seeking a match for Yitzchak who possessed excellent lineage and character, still prayed with absolute humility. He could have thought it would be easy to find a suitable match. But what does Eliezer teach us? He goes and "davens" with a heartfelt cry: "Hashem, I'm lost. I don't know what to do. Only You can help me."

This emphasizes that a "shidduch" comes solely from the Holy One, Blessed be He. We often rely on our connections and human understanding, but the Torah teaches us that "shidduch" depends on how we pray to Hashem. Eliezer calls out from the depths of his heart, begging for divine intervention in the merit of Avraham Avinu. He asks for an extremely unusual sign: that the girl who offers him water would also willingly offer water to his camels. This was an improbable request, but he knew the most important quality was Chessed, and he sought a sign that would unequivocally demonstrate it. His prayer from the depth of his heart was answered.

The same applies to the prayer of Mincha, often associated with Yitzchak. Mincha is prayed when it's neither full day nor full night, a time of uncertainty, where clarity is limited. In moments of ambiguity and lack of clarity, "Yitzah la'suach" – only the power of Tefillah can guide us, show us the way, and illuminate the world around us.

I wanted to share another beautiful story, but it's getting late. Baruch Hashem, it will be for next week!

Have a wonderful Shabbos! We are "bentsching Rosh Chodesh" (blessing the new month). May this be a month filled with Yeshuot (salvations), Nechamot (comforts), and Bracha (blessings). May the Holy One, Blessed be He, bring comfort to all of Am Yisrael, healing to all the wounded, and bring back all those held hostage. May it be a month of salvation and joy for each and every one of us.

Have a wonderful Shabbos, and all my love from New York!