Page 9 - HaMizrachiChayei Sarah AUS 2020

MIZRACHI EDUCATORS TORAT MIZRACHI

Rabbi Reuven Taragin Rabbanit Shani Taragin

Sarah’s Sacrifice

arashat Chayei Sarah focuses on a full-fledged wife to Avram to beget life and legacy. Without any prophetic
two detailed narratives – Avra- the long-awaited promised progeny. commands, he struggles with focused
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Pham’s purchase of a field with a She struggles with this change in willpower to catalyze the fulfillment
cave as a burial place for Sarah, and status as Hagar conceives and belittles of Hashem’s promises to secure Land
his mission – via his servant Eliezer her, and stands by as Avraham names and children for the future. Sarah
– to find a wife for his son Yitzchak. his first-born child “Yishmael” – for understood that Divine promise is
The former is Avraham’s initiative to G-d had heard the oppressive cries of not a statement that G-d will act, but
secure the promise of Land (Brit bein Hagar. “an invitation from G-d to Avraham
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HaBetarim), stated five times, and and his children that they should act,”
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the latter is Avraham’s response to the with commitment and willingness
promise of children (Brit Mila), also “” Sarah’s willingness to sacrifice, and G-d will help them.
assured to Avraham five times. Avra- to sacrifice her future Sarah understood the challenge of ful-
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ham does not wait for G-d to fulfill filling Hashem’s covenant. She acted
these promises but realizes G-d is wait- status merits her to with faith, not passivity, overcoming
ing for him to facilitate their fulfillment. become Am Yisrael’s overwhelming personal obstacles to
But why wait for Sarah’s death and not first Matriarch. secure the future of Hashem’s nation.
purchase land or search for a wife for She inspired Avraham to get up and
Yitzchak earlier? do the same. May her legacy provide
The Torah teaches us – “And the Immediately after this story, the Torah us, her children, with the strength to
persevere and act to secure the future
life of Sarah was 100 and 20 and tells us of the Brit Mila, a covenant of our Land and nation!
seven years; these were the years of forged with Avraham and his descen-
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the life of Sarah.” Avraham was not dants through the sign of circumci-
waiting for the death of Sarah. He sion. And Sarah is to be the mother of 1 Bereishit 12:7, 13:14–17, 15:7, 15:18–21,
was inspired by Sarah’s life of active Yitzchak through whom the covenant 17:7–8.
will continue! Sarah’s willingness to
commitment to the aforementioned sacrifice her future status to actively 2 Bereishit 12:2, 13:16, 15:5, 17:4–5, 22:17.
promises to continue her legacy. 3 Bereishit 23:1.
catalyze the fulfillment of Hashem’s 4 Literally in the middle of the narratives, as
At the climax/transition in the nar- promises, of Land and descendants, highlighted through chiasmus in the Avra-
ratives of Avraham Avinu, the Torah merits her to become Am Yisrael’s 5 ham stories.
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See Radak 11:29-31.
tells us a story of Sarah Imeinu (Bere- first Matriarch. 6 See Ramban 16:2.
ishit 16). This is the story that will The Netziv explains that although 7 Netziv, HaEmek Davar, 23:1.
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determine who will be the “Mother” Avraham received direct messages of 8 Bereishit Rabbah 41 – “Avraham left (Ur
of the promised nation. Sarah has prophecies from Hashem command- Kasdim) in promise, I (Sarah) left in faith.”
followed Avram from Ur Kasdim to ing him to leave his father’s home, 9 Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, “Land and Children,”
Canaan, accompanying him as they and later to sacrifice his future hopes Covenant and Conversation (Genesis), p. 126.
both sacrificed their pasts for Divine through the binding of Yitzchak,
promise. But 10 years have passed, Sarah surmounts similar challenges
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a covenant of Land has been forged through ruach haKodesh – Divine
and promises of a child have yet to be inspiration and pure faith in the ways
fulfilled. Sarah does not wait around, of Hashem. She willingly undergoes
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passively anticipating their fulfill- her own “sacrifice” of a child before
ment. She is determined to play a role Avraham is told by Hashem to do so.
in the actualization of Hashem’s word. This is Sarah Imeinu’s legacy. Rabbanit Shani Taragin is Educational
So she forfeits her entire future and Director of Mizrachi and the Director of
potential status of national matriarch, Upon her death, Avraham is inspired the Mizrachi Matan Lapidot Educators’
and gives her maidservant Hagar as and determined to perpetuate Sarah’s Program.

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