Seizing opportunities that arise Every New Day
in a world of constant Change
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
In this week’s parsha of Chayei Sarah it says (24:1); And Abraham was old (zakein), advanced in days (ba b’yamim), and Hashem had blessed Abraham with everything. The Medrash on this pasuk quotes the words “old (zakein), advanced in days (ba b’yamim)” and comments; There are those that are old but not advanced in days, those that are advanced in days but not old, Avraham however had both qualities of being old (zakein) and advanced in days (ba b’yamim). The commentaries on the Medrash explain that someone can be old such as R’ Elazar ben Azarya who was old, a zakein at an early age. Also there are some that can be advanced in days but have not acquired ziknah, old age. These two qualities, old age and advance in days appear to be different. What is the difference between the two, what do we learn from the fact that Avraham had both qualities and what does it teach us in our service of Hashem.
The word ‘zakein’ relates to wisdom as it says in the gemara (Kiddushin 32b) “ Who is a zakein? Zeh sh’kaneh chochmah, a person that has acquired wisdom”. The word ‘kaneh’ means to acquire, implying that it has become internalized in to the point that it is part and parcel of person, their service of Hashem and their study of the Torah. The pasuk from the parsha is teaching us that not only did Avraham learn the Torah he also filled all of his days with mitzvos to the point that there was no day in his life that he did not fill with mitzvos as much as was possible in the times before Matan Torah.
Therefore the word zakein refers to an individual who has acquired the wisdom of the Torah while the words ‘ba b’yaimim’ refers to someone who’s entire life is complete, meaning every day was full of mitzvos. The Baal Shem Tov explains that not missing a day of doing mitzvos does not only refer to saying Krias Shema on time and other mitzvos which are Torah obligations. What it is referring to is the proactive and ongoing involvement with mitzvos such as proactive involvement with the mitzva of tzedaka for example. Filling one’s days with mitzvos also means making extra time each day to learn the Torah even though it's not necessarily easy and even if according to halacha one would be allowed to suffice with just one chapter of study.
Why does this term ‘ba b’yaimim’ refer to each and every day and is not a description of the individua,l similar to the term zakein (a person that has acquired wisdom)? The reason is because because the neshama doesn't require any specific amount to be accomplished on any given day. The neshama only needs to complete it’s purpose. That can occur in any time frame, either all in one day or spread out over days and years. The significance of mitzvos being done each and every day is to fill all of time with kedusha. Time is created by Hashem and is constantly changing. ‘Ba b’yaimim’ represents the opportunity to sanctify time and all of its changes through proactively doing mitzvos.
The word ‘zakein’ as mentioned before relates to the neshama’s personal connection which is achieved through study. Time is measured by change as it says in the Hayom Yom; “A summer day and a winter night is a year”. ‘Ba b’yaimim’ refers to one's effect on the world and time itself. .
Some mitzvos come easy while others are challenging. It's easy to focus and emphasize the mitzvos that come easy and to ignore those that are difficult. The message of this verse teaches us not to shy away from any mitzvah but to involve ourselves in all aspects of our changing world even those requiring special emphasis because perhaps they are our main purpose in this world.
We see a similar challenge in mivtzoyim and in our involvement with others in general. There are different types of people; some that we have a consistent and easy relationship with and others who we are successful with one day and the next day go cold. The world is full of constantly changing styles and a swinging pendulum. What was fascinating one day is mildly interesting the next. All of this is of our challenge and our purpose to address. We inherited this responsibility from Avraham who excelled and was ultimately successful in achieving the level of ‘ba b’yaimim’. By rising to this challenge and involving ourselves with the changing modes moods and atmospheres of each day and infusing it all with the wisdom of the Torah and performance of mitzvos, proactively spreading goodness and kindness to all with which we come in contact, each according to their ability, may we all merit the great days of Moshiach.
A Good Shabbos
(Based on Likutei Sichos v.3 parshas Chayei Sarah)