Page 33 - HaMizrachi #14 2019 Chayei Sarah USA

Rabbi Stewart Weiss

The Price of Life

he title of our parasha, “Chayei behind Avraham’s words is: “While win it and a high price to maintain
Sarah” (the life of Sarah) – I am not exactly ‘one of your kind,’ it. That price tag reads “Struggle,
Twhich is one of just six parshiot I have legitimate legal rights to this Sacrifice and Stamina.”
in the Torah named for a person – is place.”
particularly perplexing, as it begins Sarah’s life – more than any other
with Sarah’s death, not life. Chazal’s And let us also not forget that woman in the Torah – is one of
famous comment that “the righteous, Avraham was certainly not someone continual hardship and heroism. She,
even in death, are referred to as alive” to be physically trifled with. He no less than her husband, must leave
is certainly apt, but might be used for recently, in Parashat Lech-Lecha, her familiar surroundings behind and
any Biblical hero. Why choose Sarah had gone to war and almost single- bravely set out for a new Land. But she
alone? handedly defeated the four kings in must also deal with numerous other
battle, which undoubtedly would have daunting challenges: the extreme
Avraham approaches the Hittites earned him a widespread reputation as frustration of her infertility, her
to purchase a burial site for Sarah. a mighty warrior. belittling at the hands of her servant
The negotiations for the Cave of Hagar and her abduction by a foreign
Machpelah don’t go very well for So why does Avraham – who so deftly power – not once, but twice! And then,
Avraham; he is told it will take no demonstrated the art of negotiation finally, while Avraham and Yitzchak
less than 400 silver coins to buy the when he debated the fate of Sodom both survive the intense ordeal of the
lot. And these are not your run-of- with G-d – meekly submit to Ephron’s Akeida, Sarah does not; she dies from
the-mill coins; the Torah refers to pricey demand, readily dishing out the the trauma.
them as “Over LaSocher” – which the money with virtually no negotiation at
rabbis explain refers to a special mint all? All of these enormous trials and
of international currency (akin to gold, tribulations combine to make Sarah
a model – the quintessential model –
which is highly valued in any locale) I suggest that Avraham is making a
worth millions of shekels. Avraham grand statement and sending out a for all future generations to admire
and emulate. In a very real sense then,
readily agrees to the terms. profound message to the generations:
the value of something is directly she remains alive; an ongoing, living
But why did Avraham submit to proportional to the price paid for it, testament to one of the great lessons
this exorbitant price? After all, he to the energy and expense incurred incumbent upon each one of us to
certainly was justified in feeling in both acquiring and keeping it. If learn and embody. Sarah teaches us
that he had a legitimate claim on the it comes cheap, it is cheap. Like an that, when all is said and done, the
land himself, in a promise (Bereishit expensive, exclusive piece of art or value of a life is directly equal to the
12:7) that came directly from none bottle of a prized, aged wine, the price we pay for living it.
other than the Almighty – the owner very cost of the thing conveys its
of all the world’s real estate! In his intrinsic worth. So it was with this
conversation with Ephron, he remarks, initial purchase in Eretz Yisrael. It
“Ger v’toshav anochi imachem – I am was important to establish, right from Rabbi Stewart Weiss is Director of the
a stranger and a resident among you.” the start, that this Land is infinitely Jewish Outreach Center of Ra’anana
As Rashi explains, the deeper meaning valuable; it demands a high price to jocmtv@netvision.net.il

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