Tag: Chayai Sara

Parshas Chayei Sara (5771)

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Parshas Chayei Sara (5771)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

Rashi in the beginning of the parsha explains that the pasuk points out that when Sara was 100 she was still clear and clean from “chet”.  What could she have been guilty of?  How much we must be sensitive to fall into wrongdoing.  Avraham refused to let Yitzchok go to Lavan despite how critical it was for the building of Klal Yisroel, not to be in a sinful environment.  How much care we must take today living in a low level society and civilization.  The reward for keeping above is awesome.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Parshas Chayei Sara (5770)

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Parshas Chayei Sara (5770)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

In the episode of Eliezer’s endeavor to find a zivug for Yitzchok and thus the foundation of Klal Yisroel on one hand it appears smooth.  However, with greater observation one can observe the subtle attempts of Lavan to sabotage.  Such a significant message today to be sensitive to the subtle  destructive forces around us.

Have a wonderful Shabbos and a redeeming Chodesh.

Parshas Chayei Sara (5769)

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Parshas Chayei Sara (5769)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

Eliezer, on his trip to arrange the marriage for Yitzchok, brought a certificate containing everything owned.  Rashi explains, this, so that Lavan should “jump” for the shidduch.  This was to see to it that the shidduch would be arranged without Lavan putting much thought into it. It was actually a great miracle that edifice of such wickedness and cruelty was willing to give their daughter to become part of the greatest light of kedusha in Creation.  Hashem truly manipulates all events.  This is a lesson which is so significant today with the current events seeming so frightening.  It is imperative that we strengthen our emuna in Hashem who is the “oseh chadashos” and we shall openly see the hand of Hashem in His rule.

Have a wonderful week and a good Chodesh.

Parshas Chayei Sara (5768)

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Parshas Chayei Sara (5768)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

The outstanding event in our parsha is the passing of Sara Imainu yet it is called Chayei Sara—the life of Sara.  Our great ones are vivacious and full of vigor and life after they have made their official passage and voyage from this world.  Tzadikim bimisasam nikraim chaim.

I wish with this thought to increase the achdus among our brethren through the following.  There is a considerable amount of chasidishe groups among us who seek the advice and blessings of a leader who has been buried and this is subject to criticism and a source of conflict among us.  How can advice or blessings be requested from a leader who has “passed on”?

To quote the biography of R’ Chaim Volozhin, the talmid muvhak of the Vila Gaon—“Both the common people and the leaders of the generation continued to seek guidance at the gravesite of R’ Chaim as if he was still alive.  And according to his own words – even in death I will not lose connection with my fellow Yiddin.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Parshas Chayai Sara (5767)

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Parshas Chayai Sara (5767)
By Mordechai Dolinsky

The popular understanding of Rashi (23:1) is that Sara Imainu passed away from the shock of the mistaken information that Yitzchok was actually slaughtered.  However, from more careful examination it is clear that she was disturbed just from the idea of the “akaida” which obviously needs explanation.

Just as the ‘nisayon’ of Avraham is explained that the whole concept of slaughtering Yitzchok was so much to the contrary of how Hashem presented Himself as the epitome of chesed;  so too, to Sara  the idea was just too devastating.

This calls out for us the extreme importance that chesed is in the service of Hashem.

Have a wonderful Chodesh.

Parshas Chayei Sara (5766)

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Parshas Chayei Sara (5766)
By Mordechai Dolinsky

The small “chaf” expressing Avraham’s limited grief at Sara’s eulogy was due to the fact that she lived a long, full life.  What would be objectionable if Avraham had an over expression of grief over the passing of his lifelong marriage partner?  We see that the issue of inappropriate abundance of grief is a matter which must be controlled considering that we are the recipients of marvelous, constant blessings from Hashem.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Parshas Chayei Sara (5765)

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Parshas Chayei Sara (5765)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

To many it seems so sad that the news of Akeidas Yitzchok caused the passing away of Sara Imainu.  However, it was the concern over the future of Clal Yisroel that really disturbed her.  This means that in her petirah she was serving Hashem in a very high form; what a zchus.

When some unpleasantness is destined for us, chas v’shalom, it is the greatest gift from Heaven to be able to fulfill it in the service of Hashem.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Parshas Chayei Sara (5762)

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Parshas Chayei Sara (5762)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

We are accustomed to understand the connection of the akeida and the passing of Sara Immenu was the emotional devastation she experienced at the thought that her Yitzchok was slaughtered.  However, going through Rashi more carefully it is evident that the factor that disturbed her was that Yitzchok was subjected to the akeida.  The Medrash Tanchuma confirms this by its rendition that the Satan appeared before Sara in the form of Yitzchok himself who related to her the events of the akeida, which shocked her to the extent that caused her passing.  Obviously, it was that he was subjected to the akeida which disturbed her.  Food for thought.

Rashi points out that all of Sara’s years were complete with accomplishment.  The Mesilas Yesharim echoes this principle that above all we must keep in our sight our true goals—not to get sidetracked with issues and activities that are not our priority.  We should all be zocheh to fulfill our true purpose in the world.

Have wonderful Shabbos.

Parshas Chayei Sara (5761)

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Parshas Chayei Sara (5761)
By Mordechai Dolinsky

The Medrash (58:3) relates an episode of Rebbi Akiva lecturing to a dosing audience.  In an attempt to get their attention and stimulate them he challenged them with the following inquiry.  What enabled Queen Esther to rule over 127 states?  The solution he offered was that it was truly appropriate for Esther the offspring of Sara Imainu whose life extended for 127 years, to likewise have the jurisdiction over 127 provinces.

There is a simplistic beauty to the incident; a display of such pedagogical sophistication.  Instead of reprimanding his audience and showing annoyance for their lack of respect, this great sage chose to ‘perk them up’ with an attention catching puzzle.  The simple catch of his answer is the interesting numerical connection between Sara Imainu’s life and Esther’s kingdom.  However, delving more deeply to understand the Medrash, the connection between Esther being worthy to rule over provinces because of the life span of Sara Imainu is obviously puzzling.

One of vital mechanisms that HaShem incorporated into the functioning of this world is the law of consequences.  Our actions have a profound effect on important aspects of our lives regarding the present and future.  Sara Imainu made use of every year of her life with such rich accomplishments that had the far-reaching effects of earning the control of the provinces for her future offspring Esther. Year for eir (city).

Someone born into circumstances far removed from any connection to Torah observance, by having a sincere yearning to find Hashem in his youth, can find himself years later learning Torah intensively in Yerushalayim.

Harnessing our resources and energies to do a difficult act of chessed, can result in some marvelous good fortune decades later in our lives.

We can find multitudes flocking and yearning to hear the teachings of a certain Talmid Chacham who has peers that surpass him in knowledge.  He earned this zchus in his early youth by the attentiveness he gave to his teachers.

A young man from England who had been far-removed from observance, he and his family, made it back to Yiddishkeit.  How and why??  He related to me that he had a great grandfather, a simple farmer, of whom there was a tradition in his family, that would stand in Shul on Yom Kippur from the onset of Kol Nidrei all through the night and day until the completion of Neilah; his merits trickled down.

With a bit more intent and intensity added to one of our achievements, we might be igniting a spiritual spark that will bring true glory to ourselves and our families for generations.