Chayei Sarah
The Parsha starts, “Va’yihu chayei Sarah me’ah shana v’esrim shana v’sheva shanim, shnei chayei Sarah.” Rashi is bothered that the passuk states after each number another “shana.” Rashi writes that each one has a lesson to teach. Sarah, at age 100 was just like at age 20 for chait; just as at 20 Sarah didn’t do any aveiros, so too she didn’t at 100. She was at age 20 just like at age 7 for beauty. The passuk ends “shnei chayei Sarah” to teach that all the years were equal for good.
Towards the end of the Parsha we find a similar passuk regarding Avraham which states, “me’ah shana v’shivim shana v’chameish shanim.” Here too, there are extra “shana”s. Rashi writes that Avraham was at age 100 just like 70, and at age 70 like 5 without chait.
There is another point to mention in both of the above pesukim, it mentions “shnei chayei Sara,” and “shnei chayei Avraham,” meaning the years of life. The Avos and Imahos lived full years of life, each day was an accomplished aliyah in ruchniyus. They constantly served Hashem throughout their entire lives, and not just some parts. This idea is hinted at the words, “v’Avraham zakein ba bayamim, and Avraham was old, he came with his days.” What is the meaning of coming with his days? Avraham brought all of his days with him as each day was another step of the ladder which contributed toward his building a life of completeness. Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz offers a mashal: A person puts a pot of water on the stove to boil. After a few minutes, before it boils, he then removes it from the fire. After it cools off, he puts the pot back on for another few minutes and then takes it off again. This person will never have his water boiled! The pot needs to stay on the fire continuously until it will boil. The same is true with reaching one’s potential; one must keep on working hard, and constantly grow in his avodas Hashem. Avraham and Sarah came with their days – each day was joined to the next with completeness in their avodas Hashem!
May we learn from the Avos HaKedoshim to continuously serve Hashem to the best of our ability!
