The Significance of Sarah's Cries and the Shofar Blasts
Parsha B'Iyun | November 14, 2025
Print This Article
View Original PDF

The Significance of Sarah's Cries and the Shofar Blasts

Parsha B'Iyun | December 08, 2025

The Rada”l offers another explanation, suggesting that women have a lighter disposition, where the attribute of mercy for their children overcomes them, and they are distressed by sudden news, unable to withstand it. This is also implied in the Midrash Tanchuma, where Yitzchak tells Avraham not to inform his mother when she is standing by the pit or on the roof, lest she throw herself and die. In conclusion, the Rada”l writes that from what is said in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, "three cries corresponding to three blasts, etc.," it implies that they instituted the Mitzvah of the shofar blasts (tekiyot) and sobs (yellalot) to remember Sarah's merit. As the Abudraham writes (Rosh Hashanah): It says in the Midrash, that on Rosh Hashanah Yitzchak was bound on the altar, and on that day Sarah heard and laughed and wailed and cried, and therefore the Torah says יוֹם תְּרוּעָה יִהְיֶה לָכֶם – and it is translated as a day of wailing, so that Hakadosh Baruch Hu will remember the wailing of Sarah Imeinu and atone for us.

If so, it is proven that her behavior was not, chalilah, against the will of Hakadosh Baruch Hu, for if it were, it would not have been established for Klal Yisrael to do so when they wish to bring their memory for good.

The Rada”l offers another explanation, suggesting that women have a lighter disposition, where the attribute of mercy for their children overcomes them, and they are distressed by sudden news, unable to withstand it. This is also implied in the Midrash Tanchuma, where Yitzchak tells Avraham not to inform his mother when she is standing by the pit or on the roof, lest she throw herself and die. In conclusion, the Rada”l writes that from what is said in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, "three cries corresponding to three blasts, etc.," it implies that they instituted the Mitzvah of the shofar blasts (tekiyot) and sobs (yellalot) to remember Sarah's merit. As the Abudraham writes (Rosh Hashanah): It says in the Midrash, that on Rosh Hashanah Yitzchak was bound on the altar, and on that day Sarah heard and laughed and wailed and cried, and therefore the Torah says יוֹם תְּרוּעָה יִהְיֶה לָכֶם – and it is translated as a day of wailing, so that Hakadosh Baruch Hu will remember the wailing of Sarah Imeinu and atone for us.

If so, it is proven that her behavior was not, chalilah, against the will of Hakadosh Baruch Hu, for if it were, it would not have been established for Klal Yisrael to do so when they wish to bring their memory for good.

PDF Preview