Page 12 - HaMizrachi #14 2019 Chayei Sarah USA

Rabbi Zev Leff

Remembering the Day of Death

“Sarah died in Kiryat Arba, which is overcome any threat. Secondly, aware- run and they run. We run to eternal
Hebron… And Abraham came to eulo- ness of one’s mortality can also lead to life, and they run to ultimate destruc-
gize Sarah and cry for her.” 1 despair or feeling as though nothing in tion,” as meaning that one must be
this world is of any meaning. Finally, constantly aware that he is running
abbi Yitzchak Karo explains thoughts of mortality can lead to feel- toward his final destiny and do all
that the account of Sarah’s ings of total abandon and frenzied in his power now to acquire eternal
Rdeath is placed between Riv- indulgence in physical pleasures – “Eat reward.
ka’s birth and Yitzchak’s marriage, to and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 3
remind us that even on such joyous Considered in this way, awareness of
occasions as a birth or a wedding, one Each of the stages mentioned by death can be an exhilarating incen-
must still remember the day of death. the Talmud is designed to counter- tive to realize the spiritual potential
It is the day of death that puts life in act these negative consequences of in every moment. That, said the Alter
its proper perspective. Thus we break remembering one’s mortality. The of Kelm, was why Rav Hamenuna
a glass at a wedding, in part, to temper exhortation to exercise one’s free Zuti entertained the guests at a wed-
our joy with a reminder of the fragility will in overpowering the yetzer hara ding feast by singing, “Woe to us that
of life and our ultimate mortality. 2 reminds us of our own limited control we are dying; woe to us that we are
The Midrash interprets the verse, in this world. “Everything is in G-d’s dying.” This chant was not a dirge, but
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“And G-d saw that all that He had cre- hands except the fear of Heaven.” Rec- rather a joyous challenge to the new
ated was very good” – ‘good’ refers to ognition of this fact prevents delusions couple to enhance their true simcha.
life; ‘very good’ to death. We remember of mastery and power. When Rabbi Akiva saw his students
our mortality in order not to love this Studying Torah and G-d’s com- dozing off during a lecture, he awoke
world too much and forget our ulti- mandments – the second stage rec- them by asking, “What did Esther
mate purpose. ommended for combating the yetzer contemplate that caused her to rule
When one is confronted with the hara – reminds us of the value of this 127 provinces?” He answered that she
desire to sin, the Talmud tells us, he world as the arena for fulfilling G-d’s had reflected on the life of Sarah, who
should arouse his yetzer hatov (good will and earning eternal reward. We lived 127 years. Sarah lived a full 127
inclination) to suppress his yetzer hara thereby counteract feelings of despair years, each moment utilized to the
(evil inclination). If he is successful, generated by remembering the day of fullest. Her life furnished Esther with
fine; if not, he should learn Torah. If death. the model she needed to reach her full
learning Torah is sufficient, fine; if And finally, reading the Shema potential. The same consideration,
not, he should recite the Shema. If and accepting the yoke of Heaven Rabbi Akiva implied to his students,
this succeeds, fine; if not, he should restrains us from wallowing in earthly should lead them to remain attentive
remember the day of death. and not slumber during their learning.
pleasures.
From this passage, we realize that The parasha recounting Sarah’s death
focusing on our own mortality is not Once we have anticipated all the neg- is called “Chayei Sarah” – the life of
without its own dangers. Otherwise, ative consequences, we can use the Sarah, to teach us that the awareness
knowledge of our own mortality pos-
why not confront the yetzer hara ini- of death gives meaning and inspiration
tially with thoughts of death? itively: to remind ourselves that time to life.
is limited, the stakes are high, and if
There are at least three ways that not now, when. “Repent one day before
excessive concern with death can your demise,” the Sages advise us. In 1 Bereishit 23:2.
have negative results. When a person other words, treat every day as if it 2 See Brachot 31a and Tosafot ad loc.
is suddenly confronted with his own were the last and live it with a sense 3 Isaiah 22:13.
mortality, a denial reaction may take of urgency and desire to secure one’s 4 Brachot 33b.
place that manifests itself in irratio- eternal reward. Talmudei Rabbeinu Rabbi Zev Leff serves as the Rav of Moshav
nal feelings of power and ability to Yona comments on the phrase, “We Matityahu

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