Rashi informs us that three unique miracles happened weekly in the tent while Sarah was alive: Her Shabbos candles remained kindled from Shabbos to Shabbos; there was a special berachah in the challah that she baked, as it retained its freshness throughout the week, and there was a cloud of Hashem’s Shechinah that hovered above the tent. These phenomena were unique to Sarah, and when she passed away, they ceased. The candles no longer remained lit, the bread lost its freshness, and the cloud vanished. When Yitzchak brought Rivkah to the tent, the three miracles returned.
The Avnei Nezer (Ne’os Desha, Chayei Sorah, ois 2) wonders why the candles would remain lit from week to week. After all, Shabbos candles are lit specifically to usher in the Shabbos. What is the significance of this seemingly superfluous miracle?
The Avnei Nezer explains that as we leave kedushas Shabbos and embark on a new week, we seek to bring the kedushah with us. We strive to retain the holiness of Shabbos so that it will permeate our entire week, to protect us from the detrimental influences of the world that we may encounter in the coming days.
This was an area in which Sarah Imeinu excelled. She was able to maintain the kedushah of Shabbos throughout the week. This unique madreigah of Sarah was symbolically represented by the flames of her material Shabbos candles remaining lit throughout the week. Sarah was deeply connected to Shabbos, to the extent that Shabbos never left her.
This attribute was noted in Rivkah as well, and it served as a source of nechamah for Yitzchok Avinu. Sarah transmitted this spiritual attainment to her descendants, as well. It has been passed from generation to generation, throughout the ages. To this very day, women maintain a uniquely close connection to Shabbos. Even after we make havdolah, the influences and the holiness of Shabbos remain with them throughout the coming week.
The Magen Avraham (Orach Chaim 290:4) writes that the accepted minhag is that women do not partake of the wine used for havdolah. Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld offers a wonderous reason for this custom.
We recite havdolah at the conclusion of Shabbos to demarcate the separation between Shabbos and the week to follow. Women, even more so than men, are able to retain the kedusha of Shabbos and hold onto it throughout the week. For women, the kedusha of Shabbos does not dissipate merely because the sun has set and the stars have emerged. For women, the holiness and sanctity of Shabbos continue to infuse the days ahead with kedusha.
Women do not partake of the wine of havdolah because they cannot bring themselves to part from Shabbos. Following the sanctified path of Sarah Imeinu, all women demonstrate their weeklong connection to Shabbos by refraining from drinking havdolah wine.
