Dvar Torah for Parshat Chayei Sarah

Based on Likutey Moharan I, 17

The Maarat HaMakhpelah (the Twin Caves) in Hebron, where our holy Patriarchs and Matriarchs are buried. It is the gate to the Garden of Eden, the portal through which all souls must pass to ascend to Heaven, shining with a most beautiful light, imbued with the most delicious fragrances. We well understand why the Patriarch Avraham was willing to pay even the excessive price that he did (the equivalent of close to two million dollars for a cave and a field). Why, however, did Ephron want to sell such a magnificent place?

The holy Zohar (I, 127b) tells us that Ephron thought the Maarat HaMakhpelah a disgusting, black hole, a place to flee from. Why was our father Avraham able to discern the true nature of the Maarat HaMakhpelah and Ephron not?

Rebbe Nachman explains that one's ability to derive benefit from a holy resource, in particular a tzaddik, is dependent upon one's good deeds (not only mitzvot, but even something like eating in order to have strength to learn Torah). The more you do good things the more your mind and soul become receptive to the light of the tzaddik's teachings. And when you receive that light....

What happens? The tzaddik, whose sole interest is to enable you to become as God-fearing and God-loving as you possibly can, has placed in his words lessons for you: encouragement, insight, rebuke. If your deeds are good, and if fearing and loving God are your goals, then you will properly understand what is meant. The aroma will nourish you and you will appreciate the light of guidance that the tzaddik shines for you, to wend your way through this world.

So, each of us has to carefully consider: Do I want to be like Ephron, so spiritually insensitive as to sell away the gate to the Garden of Eden, or like my father Avraham, who knew that whatever he paid he was getting a bargain? Can I afford to fail to appreciate the Torah resources available to me, my "gates" to the Garden of Eden and my tools for growing in fear and love of God? Go do some mitzvot and the answer will be clear enough!

Agutn Shabbos!
Shabbat Shalom!