This week’s parsha is Chayei Sarah. Everything that occurs in the world in general is b’Hasgacha Protis-by divine providence. This is incomparably more so with regard to the Torah, the will and wisdom of Hashem. This is even more evident with regard to the name of a parsha which includes the entire theme of the parsha. The Rebbe asks the following question about the name of the parsha “Chayei Sarah”. How can that be the title of the parsha when all the details within it seem to have no relation with the life of Sarah? The purchase of her burial plot, Yitzchok’s shidduch, Avraham’s second marriage, and his burial all not only do not seemingly relate to Sarah’s life, they even seem to send the opposite message.
The Rebbe explains that the way we know that a person’s life was full and complete is when what they lived for continues forward. There is a basic difference between the general approaches of Avraham and Sarah. Avraham was the father of both Yitzchok and Yishmael. Sarah’s focus was entirely on Yizchok. When a question arose if Yishmael would inherit Avraham, Sarah’s made it clear that he would not, that only Yitzchok would inherit Avraham, and Yishmael must be sent away.
When Avraham needed a plot for Sarah’s burial he approached the Bnei Cheis, and preceded his offer by saying “ger v’toshav anochi imachem- I am a stranger and a settler amongst you”. Why did Avraham use both expressions, either he is a stranger or a settler, but not both? Since Hashem promised the land to Avraham’s children and not him, then he’s a stranger that must pay. If he is already entitled to the land now then he’s a settler and why pay them? The reason is because Avraham was sending them the following message. If you will sell the plot, then I will consider myself as a stranger, as the fulfillment of the promise is for later. If however you will not sell, then I will be considered a settler and take it now without purchase by right of Hashem’s promise. The very fact that Avraham insisted upon burying Sarah specifically in the plot of Adam and Chava, the parents of all of humanity shows Sarah’s influence. Sarah’s message that way to fulfill Hashem’s purpose in creation is through the singular undiluted identification and focus upon Yitzchak’s unique role as a Jew, is expressed in the burial of Sarah, the Mother of the Jewish people specifically in this spot, the place of Adam and Chava. This is because the essential purpose of all of humanity is carried out through the Jewish people. This was Sarah’s message, and it was that message that gave Avraham the strength to insist upon Sarah’s burial in that place. This was also the message that Avraham sent to the Bnei Ches in the way he presented himself. If they accept their role in facilitating Hashem’s purpose through the Jewish people, then they have a place, and Avraham was prepared to acknowledge that by interacting as a purchaser. If on the other hand they did not accept, then it would be as if they did not exist, and he would act as a settler.
Later in the parsha this message is seen in the way Avraham goes about finding Yitzchak’s shidduch using his faithful servant Eliezer. Eliezer, Avraham’s closest disciple, also had a daughter of marriageable age. When the possibility of a shidduch between them was hinted, the answer was unequivocal; “absolutely not”, “because my son is blessed and yours are the opposite”. In this episode we see that Sarah’s perspective penetrated not just to outsiders like Bnei Ches, but even within their inner circle.
When Yitzchok married Rivka, he brought her into Sarah’s tent. By her entering, he felt Sarah’s presence return. As Rashi says, as long as sarah was alive 1-the shabbos candles burned from erev shabbos to the next erev shabbos 2-a bracha was in the dough
Later, Avraham married Hagar and had more children known as ‘Bnei Ketura (another name for Hagar)’. In the end he sent all them away with gifts. His purpose in sending them away was to eliminate any dispute regarding the fact that Yitzchak was his sole inheritor. Again, we clearly see the influence of Sarah’s message.
Later, when Avraham was buried, even Yishmael admitted that Yitzchok was the inheritor! This is shown in the pasuk where Yitzchok is listed before Yishmael, and Rashi points out that he is listed before Yishmael because Yishmael did teshuva and accepted Yizchok as the rightful heir to Avraham.
All of these episodes bring out the message and influence of Sarah. Throughout the parsha we live with Sarah.
The message to us from this week’s parsha is clear. When we as parents and community members, may we all live with good long years, have impact upon our children, family and environment, and we see that in the continuation, then our life becomes a true life. When we walk down the street, whether we like it or not, we are known as ‘Lubavitchers’, and that awareness needs to impact the fashion with which we walk and interact. Just like when Yizchok married Rivka, when he saw an infusion of his Mother’s influence and ways within the running of the home, his perspective was transformed, and he found strength and comfort in that continuation. When we live our lives with the influence of the Rebbe and his ways, and we see that our children are impacted as well, and they do what they do because they are the Rebbe’s children, we experience the Rebbe’s vitality in our lives; “ma zaro b’chaim, af hu b’chaim -just as the children, (his Chassidim) are alive by living in His ways so too He is alive”
(Adapted from Likutei Sichos v. 15)
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