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Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi

Our Beloved Mother

he sweet aroma of fresh- Even amidst the darkness, Sarah saw Sarah’s life” – teaches that all the days
ly-baked challah is no longer in light. Even when life was painful and of Sarah’s life were equally good in her
Tthe air… troublesome, she saw G-d’s salvation. eyes. For Sarah, both the joyful and
sad experiences were embraced and
The candles which once illumi- And it is that unique perspective in understood to be coming from G-d.
nated ever so brightly have been life she has bequeathed to us all. We Whatever she was going through, she
extinguished… all possess the inner conviction to rec- maintained the same positive and
ognize the good and see that G-d is
And the Heavenly cloud, which pro- carrying us along. For Sarah herself, optimistic outlook. Because she knew
vided shelter and protection, has she was barren for 90 years, abducted all along that G-d was supporting her
disappeared. by Pharaoh and Avimelech, and died and serving as her source of comfort
at the shock of hearing about the near- and strength.
Sarah’s soul has been recalled to death experience of her son, Yitzchak.
heaven. After I sadly lost my own child a”h, I
Yet what does the Torah tell us? was reminded it was appropriate to
As the Midrash relates, it was at this “And the years of Sarah were 100 recite the verse, “G-d has given and
time that Avraham praised Sarah years, 20 years and seven years, the G-d has taken away; may the name of
with the beautiful words of Eishet years of Sarah’s life” (Bereishit 23:1). G-d be blessed” (Iyov 1:21). The Ben
Chayil, recognizing her dedication as a Rashi explains that the redundancy Ish Chai explains that we often only
woman of valor to G-d and her family. of the word “years” after each period understand how much G-d gives us

However, it seems odd. Why would of life teaches that these years shared after G-d takes it away. It is then we
Avraham only now extol Sarah’s similar qualities. When Sarah was 100 value what precious gift we had and
unique qualities? Why only after she years old, she was as sinless as she was how much we ought to have appreci-
at age 20, comparable to an individ-
passed away did he take special note ual under 20 years of age who is not ated it.
of the blessings in her dough, candles subject to Heavenly retribution. And And so I named my next son Natan,
and clouds? meaning “give.” I learned to under-
when she was 20, she was as charming
A person can only appreciate the full and beautiful as a seven-year-old. stand that everything we have in life
scope of his wife’s or mother’s deeds We find a further comparison between is a beautiful gift from G-d. Whether
after her lifetime. Her true greatness the numbers 100 and 20, adding fur- times are good or challenging, G-d is
can be seen from the legacy she leaves ther meaning and dimension to the there to lend us support.
behind. balance of Sarah’s life. The 100th perek That is the eternal lesson Sarah has left

Sarah never completely left her tent. of Tehillim describes the joy one is to us. Appreciate every year of life and
After her passing, when Yitzchak experience when serving G-d. “Serve every step along the way. And when
brought his new wife, Rivka, into G-d with gladness, come before Him we do so, we will surely be following in
Sarah’s tent, the illuminating can- with joyous song…” The 20th perek the ways of our dear mother, for whom
dles, fresh challah and Divine cloud depicts the opposite set of circum- every day and every moment of life
stances, a life of challenge and diffi-
returned. While Rivka would now step culty: “May G-d answer you on the was full of G-d’s goodness.
into the role of the primary Matriarch day of distress… may He send help and
of Klal Yisrael, the life and lessons support you…”
Sarah left behind would forever con-
tinue to inspire and warm the hearts of As Chazal state, the final repetitive Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi is a popular
her beloved children. phrase of the verse – “the years of Israeli teacher, speaker and writer.