B"H

Monday, Mar-Cheshvan 17, 5785 / November 18, 2024

This week's Parsha, Chayei Sarah, begins with Sarah’s passing at the age of 127. Sarah’s passing comes right after the story of G-d testing Abraham by commanding him to bring his son, Isaac, for a sacrifice. Although it was only a test and Isaac lived, but when Sarah heard this it affected her negatively, that she passed away.

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. And Sarah died in Kiryat Arba which is Hebron in the land of Canaan and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her." Abraham purchased the "Ma'arat HaMachpeila," the cave of Machpeila, in the city of Hebron, as a family burial plot and buried his wife, Sarah, in the Ma’arat HaMachpeila.

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

A.   Abraham wanted this special burial place for his wife, Sarah, because Adam and Eve (Chava) were 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 the life of Sarah was 127 years.  However, from all these years, 37 years stood out, for they were very special years for Sarah. These were the last 37 years of her life in which she had her son, Yitzchak.  Sarah was 90 when she gave birth to Yitzchak.  She was 127 when she passed away.  Thus, these 37 years were very special in Sarah’s life.

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 teach us that all 127 years of Sarah’s life were the same - they were all good."   Although for many of these years she and Abraham went through many difficulties and tests and she was childless until age 90, yet, just like her last 37 years, when she had her son, Yitzchak, were good years for her, so too, she considered all her 127 years as good ones.

Q.   How could all of Sarah's years been equally good, after all the difficulties she went through?

A.  Our sages in the Talmud give the following instruction, "A person must bless G-d for the bad just as they would bless Him for the Good."  For, although 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 it just as the things we see as good.  Sarah accepted whatever G-d gave her, even her challenges, as good.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

    UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW