Dvar Torah for Parshat Chayei Sarah

Sarah lived 127 years—all of them full and perfect. (Genesis 23:1; Bereishis Rabbah 58:1)

Avraham aged, coming with days… (Genesis 24:1).

This week’s .. teaches us that our first set of parents were not merely chronologically blessed, but spent every moment of life well. Since a person’s lifespan and nature are patterned after those of his parents (The Aleph-Bet Book, Nature B:1), here are some selections relating to acquiring a long life.

God saw all that He made and—behold!—it was meod (very) good (Genesis 1:31). Meod refers to the Angel of Death (Bereishis Rabbah 9:10).
Fear of God adds days (Proverbs 10:27).
One who does not take the day of death to heart has no fear of God (The Aleph-Bet Book, Fear A:34).

The Angel of Death is none other than Satan. Part of Satan's job is to entice us to sin. If, God forbid, we succumb, it is his job to exact punishment. No one (healthy) likes to be punished. In our quest to avoid punishment we avoid sin and gain life.

Someone may ask, “Is fear of punishment a legitimate reason to observe the mitzvot? Is it fear of God that I have or fear of suffering?” Rebbe Nachman answers this question by teaching that without fear of retribution it is impossible to begin serving God. Even a saint must have such fear, for few can be so devoted to God because of love (Rebbe Nachman's Wisdom #5).

One who hates money merits long life (The Aleph-Bet Book, Money A:40).

The Talmud devotes almost an entire page to finding out how various Sages acquired long life (Megilah 27b-28a). When asked how he merited long life, Rebbe Nechunya ben HaKaneh answered that he had been a vatran with his money. In praising Job the Talmud tells us that he, too, was a vatran (Bava Batra 15b). Rashi explains that Job didn't quibble over the small change. Anaf Yosef elaborates: By rounding up the price and paying a few extra pennies for merchandise or services that he had ordered, Job showed that he had a generous spirit. Someone who doesn't stand on a few pence that are coming to him, certainly gives charity or a present with an open hand.

Avraham Avinu (Abraham our Patriarch) was also a vatran as we know from his legendary hospitality. Rebbe Nachman teaches that because Avraham Avinu was a vatran he successfully overcame the barriers that surrounded the good of the day, each and every day. The “good” is Torah which brings long life (Likutey Moharan I, Lesson #84; Berakhot 5a; Proverbs 3:16).

How does one live a life that is full, with never a wasted moment? How does one gain wisdom and good deeds day in and day out? By starting anew everyday, as the Rebbe did; by asking oneself, as the Rebbe did, “What can I do to be worthy of being a Jew, to taste Judaism?” One has to add and build on to yesterday's accomplishments (Likutey Halakhot, Tefillin 5:5)

Rebbe Nachman was once asked why his maternal grandmother, Udel the Baal Shem Tov's daughter, was held in such high esteem by the Baal Shem Tov. The Rebbe answered that his grandmother would constantly ask herself, “What can I do for Hashem now?” (Oral Tradition)

There's no place for neuroses in Judaism. We are not perpetual-mitzvah machines. We are human beings and, as such, have a responsibility to take proper care of the soul's container, i.e., the body. As the Rebbe told Reb Dov, one of his chassidim, “Sleep and eat—just watch your time” (Kokhevei Or, Anshei Moharan #21). (Our friend Yitzchak’s visual rendition of this is nice.)

agutn Shabbos!
Shabbat Shalom!