Thoughts that Count For Our Parsha

One hundred years and twenty years and seven years, were the years of Sara's life (Genesis 23:1)

The commentator Rashi explains, "The years of Sara's life - they were all equally good." But a question begs to be asked: Weren't the majority of Sara's years filled with hardships, longing for children, living in exile, imprisoned at the hands of Pharoah and Avimelech? How can we say that all of her years were equally good? During her entire life, concerning everything that was seemingly bad, Sara said, "This too is for the best." She saw G-d's kindness in everything. (Rabbi Zusia of Anipol)

And G-d blessed Abraham in everything. (24:1)

There are some righteous individuals whose main concern is with themselves, that their own relationship with G-d will be perfect. But this is not the case with true tzadikim. As we see with Abraham, our father, who was blessed with the trait of "everything." His concern was not only with himself, but for everything and everyone. (Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev)

"Let it be that the maiden to whom I will say: `Lower your pitcher that I may drink.' And she will say, `Drink, and I will give your camels to drink, also." (24:14)

When looking for a wife for Isaac, why did Eliezer examine Rebecca in this area specifically? There is a significant difference between holiness and impurity: The objective of holiness is to give, to enliven others, to influence. Impurity, on the other hand, takes. Rebecca wasn't satisfied just to give Eliezer water but watered his camels, too. From this act Eliezer saw an indication and proof that Rebecca was connected with the "side" of holiness and fitting to bond with the descendants of Abraham. (Rabbi Shneur Zalman, author of Tanya)

Reprinted from the Parshat Chaye Sarah 5763/2003 (Issue #795) email of L’Chaim, a publication of the Lubavitch Youth Organization in Brooklyn, NY.