B”H
I must start with an apology. I had
way too many thoughts for this week that I just couldn’t make Friday’s
deadline. That said, I am happy with this week’s reflections of Torah.
“The Life of Sarah” (Chayei Sarah
/ חיי שרה) is the literal translation of the title of this week’s parshah.
On the surface, it seems to be a misnomer as Sarah dies in the first section of
the parshah, and then Abraham is off to find a wife for Isaac. If
anything, Sarah is the least mentioned character in this week’s section of
Torah. Abraham, Eliezer, Isaac, Rebecca, and Keturah all seem to have more
important roles than Sarah this week. It’s really about the lives of everyone
else BUT Sarah.
So, why this title?
-- Because the life of Sarah DOES
continue.
Sarah’s essence, faith, and actions
carry through in her various roles and actions: she was a mother to Isaac who
raised him, cared for him, and nurtured him. She was a husband to Abraham and loved
him. She was a woman of strength and courage in her own right (more on this in
a bit). Thus, perhaps Chayei Sarah is a fitting title, as the
continuation of life after her death should remind us that one does not
completely die in death. The memories of the people that touch our lives burn
eternally in the lives of the people they impact. It is Abraham, Eliezer,
Isaac, Rebecca, and (yes, even Keturah—Abraham’s new wife) who remember Sarah.
In a way, Sarah only physically dies in this parshah, but as the title
clearly states, she still “lives” through the memory of her friends, family,
and today in the text of the Torah. May we all be so blessed to impact others
in ways in which after death, we will be fondly remembered.
While perhaps not explicated in the
words of the Torah She is perhaps, in fact, the first powerful female character
in the Bible without true subservience to a man…who stood up for herself and
her feelings…a true woman of valor (Eishet Chayil/אשת חיל). In fact, a hymn Jews
recite, Eishet Chayil, has been traditionally linked in scholarly texts
as Abraham’s eulogy to Sarah in praise of a woman who is full of vigor,
righteousness in character, and capable in her own right. To my Jewish
brethren, may we be reminded of the blessing that we have descended from such a
powerful and amazing woman of valor.
But, I think Sarah serves a more
universal character of the strong female presence that is a part of every
person’s life—not just for Jews. Perhaps it’s a mother, aunt, grandmother, girlfriend
(romantic or platonic), a female co-worker, or a female role model … some woman
(probably several) in your personal life have made an everlasting impact on the
way you conduct yourself and treat others. These women in our lives remind that
women have the unbreakable right to stand up and be heard and that women
deserve the same treatment as men. They disprove sex-attributed stereotypes, defy
antiquated social mores of established standards of femininity, and should
serve as reminders par excellence of the need to continue to fight for
continued equality between sexes. (I am reminded every Thursday Zumba dance session
(thank you Beyoncé) that girls indeed run the world; between their independent
achievements, their impacts on others, and personally assessing who has
impacted my world, I must agree with perhaps one of the strongest women in
current popular culture).
To all of my readers, may you find
happiness and joy in the women of valor in your life. If you still have the
distinct honor of having these women still alive in your life, consider calling
them or writing to them and thanking them for making you so special. These
women are among the greatest gifts we have been given in our life.
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