November 10th, 2017 21 Cheshvan, 5778 This weeks parashah opens by telling us about the death of our matriarch Sarah. The Torah writes that Sarahs lifetime came to one hundred years and twenty years and seven years. Youd be in good company if yo
November 10th, 2017 21 Cheshvan, 5778
This week’s parashah opens by telling us about the death of our matriarch Sarah. The Torah writes that Sarah’s lifetime came to one hundred years and twenty years and seven years. You’d be in good company if you asked why the Torah writes it this way. Why not just say Sarah lived to be one hundred and twenty seven? Rashi teaches that the reason for this is that each year counts, each year should be judged on its own merit, each year of her life makes a difference. We know this is true from our own lived experience.
The Sefat Emet, a Hasidic commentator, adds that in this deliberate way of counting, we are reminded of the preciousness of time. He reminds us of the holiness of time and notes that this holiness is only a potential - time is made holy in the way that we use it. Sarah’s death, and the way that the Torah reflects on it, serves as a reminder that the way we spend our time matters. The holiness with which we can infuse our time here on Earth has to be intentional. It is precious.
In this week of the Torah where we read of death, we’ve experienced two deaths in our Beth Sholom community. It’s a week where I stood at two different deathbeds with different families, living holy moments in time of prayer and reflection on life. I am deeply reminded of the power we have to make time holy.
May this Shabbat be one of comfort to all those who are grieving, and may Shabbat serve as a gentle reminder that time isn’t necessarily holy, but we as humans have the ability to make it so.
