בס”ד
This D’var Torah should be a Zechus L’Ilui Nishmas my sister, Kayla Rus Bas Bunim Tuvia A”H, my maternal grandfather Dovid Tzvi Ben Yosef Yochanan A”H, my maternal grandfather Dovid Tzvi Ben Yosef Yochanan A”H, my paternal grandfather Moshe Ben Yosef A”H, my paternal grandmother Channah Freidel Bas Avraham A”H, my uncle Reuven Nachum Ben Moshe & my great aunt Rivkah Sorah Bas Zev Yehuda HaKohein,
It should also be in Zechus L’Refuah Shileimah for:
-My father Bunim Tuvia Ben Channa Freidel
-My grandmother Shulamis Bas Etta
-MY BROTHER: MENACHEM MENDEL SHLOMO BEN CHAYA ROCHEL
-HaRav Shlomo Ben Shayna Zelda
-Mordechai Shlomo Ben Sarah Tili
-Noam Shmuel Ben Simcha
_R’ Simcha Yitzchak Ben Mirela Yudka
-Chaya Rochel Ettel Bas Shulamis
-And all of the Cholei Yisrael, especially those suffering from COVID-19 and the Meiron tragedy.
-It should also be a Z’chus for an Aliyah of the holy Neshamos of HaRav HaGa’on V’Sar HaTorah Shmaryahu Yosef Chaim Ben HaRav Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky A”H, Dovid Avraham Ben Chiya Kehas—R’ Dovid Winiarz ZT”L, Miriam Liba Bas Aharon—Rebbetzin Weiss A”H, as well as the Neshamos of those whose lives were taken by terrorists (Hashem Yikom Damam), COVID-19, and the Meiron tragedy.
-It should also be a Z’chus for success for Tzaha”l as well as the rest of Am Yisrael, in Eretz Yisrael and in the Galus.
פַּרָשַׁת חַיֵּי שָׂרָה
Chessed Speaks Louder than Words
פַּרָשַׁת חַיֵּי שָׂרָה tells 2 main stories. They are:
1. אַבְרָהָם buying a grave for שָׂרָה, and 2. אֶלִיעֶזֶר finding a wife for יִצְחָק.
Question: What do these 2 stories have in common?
Answer #1: Both stories honor the life of שָׂרָה אִמֵינוּ. In the first story, אַבְרָהָם gives a eulogy for שָׂרָה and purposely spends a fortune to bury her respectfully. But, what about the second story?
The second story is really about רִבְקָה אִמֵינוּ. But, what was רִבְקָה’s job? To continue שָׂרָה’s job! To be the next “Mother” of the בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל by following שָׂרָה’s example. To continue teaching us about צְנִיעוּת (modesty) and חֶסֶד (kindness). This is the greatest honor to שָׂרָה.
Answer #2: Both stories teach us the lesson of “אֱמֹר מְעַט וַעֲשֵׂה הַרְבֵּה” which means to “say a little, and do a lot.”
In the first story, עֶפְרוֹן talked a lot about the חֶסֶד he planned to show אַבְרָהָם, but he didn’t follow through with action. He said that he would give אַבְרָהָם a grave for free but then charged him 400 silver Shekels! (This was not like אַבְרָהָם who offered just bread and water to the angels, but then fed them a large feast of beef and mustard!)
But, in the second story, even though רִבְקָה did not say very much at all, her actions were incredible! She gave not just אֶלִיעֶזֶר, but 10 camels water to drink. She spoke a little, but did a lot.
There are so many lessons to learn from חַיֵּי שָׂרָה. One lesson for now is that “actions speak louder than words.” Let’s learn from the modest and kind actions of אַבְרָהָם ,שָׂרָה, and רִבְקָה. Have a wonderful שבת!
Rabbi Eisenberg, Grade 3