Parshas Chayei Sara (5761)
Bs”d
Parshas Chayei Sara (5761)
By Mordechai Dolinsky
The Medrash (58:3) relates an episode of Rebbi Akiva lecturing to a dosing audience. In an attempt to get their attention and stimulate them he challenged them with the following inquiry. What enabled Queen Esther to rule over 127 states? The solution he offered was that it was truly appropriate for Esther the offspring of Sara Imainu whose life extended for 127 years, to likewise have the jurisdiction over 127 provinces.
There is a simplistic beauty to the incident; a display of such pedagogical sophistication. Instead of reprimanding his audience and showing annoyance for their lack of respect, this great sage chose to ‘perk them up’ with an attention catching puzzle. The simple catch of his answer is the interesting numerical connection between Sara Imainu’s life and Esther’s kingdom. However, delving more deeply to understand the Medrash, the connection between Esther being worthy to rule over provinces because of the life span of Sara Imainu is obviously puzzling.
One of vital mechanisms that HaShem incorporated into the functioning of this world is the law of consequences. Our actions have a profound effect on important aspects of our lives regarding the present and future. Sara Imainu made use of every year of her life with such rich accomplishments that had the far-reaching effects of earning the control of the provinces for her future offspring Esther. Year for eir (city).
Someone born into circumstances far removed from any connection to Torah observance, by having a sincere yearning to find Hashem in his youth, can find himself years later learning Torah intensively in Yerushalayim.
Harnessing our resources and energies to do a difficult act of chessed, can result in some marvelous good fortune decades later in our lives.
We can find multitudes flocking and yearning to hear the teachings of a certain Talmid Chacham who has peers that surpass him in knowledge. He earned this zchus in his early youth by the attentiveness he gave to his teachers.
A young man from England who had been far-removed from observance, he and his family, made it back to Yiddishkeit. How and why?? He related to me that he had a great grandfather, a simple farmer, of whom there was a tradition in his family, that would stand in Shul on Yom Kippur from the onset of Kol Nidrei all through the night and day until the completion of Neilah; his merits trickled down.
With a bit more intent and intensity added to one of our achievements, we might be igniting a spiritual spark that will bring true glory to ourselves and our families for generations.
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