THE GIFT OF FULFILLMENT

Parashat Chayei Sarah
Cheshvan 25, 5783 / November 18-19, 2022
Torah: Genesis 23:1 – 25:18
Haftarah: 1 Kings 1:1-31

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This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Chanah Bella bat Kreina and Devorah bat Feigel.

Lunch and Learn meets Tuesdays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. We're continuing to read and discuss the Midrashic collection Ein Ya'akov. 
 
On November 15, we'll be at BT Shabbat 30b - page 120 of Ein Ya'akov Volume 1 - "... :אמר רב יהודה בריה דרב שמואל בר שילת משמיה דרב" - "Rab Judah son of R. Samuel b. Shilath said in Rab's name:…”

 
Ein Ya'akov is available for on-line reading or as a downloadable PDF at: 
https://hebrewbooks.org/9630 
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Rabbi Van Leeuwen has a blog which you should read at: 
https://rebjasonblog.wordpress.com/blog/ 

Dr. Steve Pearlman writes up the "Midrashim of the Week", which you should read at: 
https://midrashsrp.wordpress.com 
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If you would like to add a bit of holiness to your Thanksgiving holiday, check out the following resources provided by the Rabbinical Assembly: 
https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/story/resources-and-prayers-thanksgiving  

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THE GIFT OF FULFILLMENT
 
'And this was Sarah’s life; the years of the life of Sarah were one hundred years and twenty years and seven years. Sarah died in Kiryat Arba, now Hebron, in the land of Canaan; and Abraham came to mourn Sarah and to weep for her.' Genesis 23:1-2
 
Rashi: '“The years of the life of Sarah” tells us that they were all equally good.'
 
Yehudah Aryeh Leib of Ger, aka the Sefas Emes, offers the following comment on Rashi and the verse: 'There must be differences and changes during the years of a person’s life. There are special times in youth and in old age. But the truly righteous ones find fulfillment (shleimut) in all (or, in each) of their days. Since this is not natural, it must be a gift from God.  And this is the meaning of the verse (24:1) “and the Lord blessed Abraham in every way” – fulfillment that is found in every place and in every time. Thus, Rashi says, “They were all equally good.”'

Abram's Counsel to Sarai - James Tissot, c. 1896-1902

 
Sarah suffered much travail over the years. Uprooted from her home and moved to a foreign land; years of barrenness; conflict with her maidservant who was also Abraham’s concubine; the near sacrifice of her only son – this must have taken a heavy toll. And yet, the Gerer Rebbe teaches that Rashi was right - that all of her years were equally good.
 
Thursday, November 24 is the American holiday of Thanksgiving. This year, it is also Rosh Chodesh Kislev - a day for singing Hallel - Psalms of Praise. What better day for each of us to remember that we can, we must, find fulfillment in what we have, and to be at peace (shleimut comes from the same root as shalom – peace) with what we don’t have. This doesn’t mean we should not strive to improve ourselves, our lives and our society. But it does mean that, as the Sefas Emes says, fulfillment is indeed a gift from God. And for that, we should be thankful.
 
In advance - Happy Thanksgiving! Hodu l'Adonai ki tov; ki l'olam chasdo - Give thanks to the Lord Who is good, Whose lovingkindness is eternal. Psalm 136.
 
Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom
Rabbi Emeritus
Temple B’nai Hayim/Congregation Beth Meier
הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם ?אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם
Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.
Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1
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