B"H

Tuesday, Mar-Cheshvan 21, 5779 / October 30, 2018

This week's Parsha, Chayei Sarah, begins, "The life of Sarah was one hundred years and twenty years and seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. Sarah died in Kiryat Arba which is Hebron in the land of Canaan, Abraham came to eulogize Sarah and to weep for her."

We read how Abraham purchased the "Ma'arat HaMachpeila," the cave of Machpeila, in the city of Hebron, as a family burial plot.  He buried Sarah in the Ma’arat HaMachpeila. Eventually our three Patriarchs and three of our matriarchs were buried there. To this day Jews come there to pray.

Q.  Why did Abraham choose that particular cave as the family burial plot?

A.  Abraham knew that Adam and Eve (Chava) were already buried in the Ma’arat HaMachpeila.

Q.  The first word of the Parsha is “Vayihu.”  The numerical value of the Hebrew word “Vayihu,” is 37.  What is the connection between the number 37 and the life of Sarah?

A.  The Parsha begins that Sarah lived 127 years.  However, from all these years, 37 years were very special for Sarah. She gave birth to her son, Yitzchak, when she was 90. Thus, for 37 years, until she passed away at 127, she enjoyed being with her only child, Yitzchak.

Q.   The Parsha begins, "And the life of Sarah was one hundred years and twenty years and seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah.”  The words, “these were the years of the life of Sarah,” seem to be repetitious?

A.   Our sages explain that the extra words, "these were the years of the life of Sarah," teach us that all 127 years of Sarah’s life were the same - they were all good."  Notwithstanding that she and Abraham went through difficult times and difficult tests. She was forcibly taken to Pharaoh and later to Avimelech and she was childless until age 90! Yet, just as her last 37 years, when she had her son, Yitzchak, were very good years for her, so too, she considered all her 127 years as good ones.

Q.  In the past two Parshiot, we read about the many trials and difficulties which Sarah endured.  The tests which Abraham endured were also trials and tribulations for Sarah.  How could she have considered all of her years as equally good?"

A.  Our sages give the following instruction, "A person must bless G-d for the bad just as they would bless Him for the Good."  For, although many times we do not see the good in a particular act or event, it is because we cannot possibly see it the way G-d does. However, we believe that G-d is good and kind, and as such we should accept even the seemingly negative things the same as the things we see as good.  Sarah was a righteous woman who viewed even challenges as positive.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY