Welcome to your ASBEE Mishpacha
Anshei Sphard - Beth El Emeth Congregation
120 East Yates Rd. North, Memphis, TN 38120
901-682-1611, Fax: 901-682-1641
asbee@aol.com
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Welcome to your ASBEE Mishpacha Anshei Sphard - Beth El Emeth Congregation 120 East Yates Rd. North, Memphis, TN 38120 901-682-1611, Fax: 901-682-1641 asbee@aol.com |
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Chayei Sarah: Getting Our Priorities StraightSolomon, the wisest of all men, taught that it is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of a feast, since the former brings about a self reflection. This week, we all go to the house of mourning, the house of Abraham. In a house of mourning, we ask ourselves what is truly important in life. From the verses describing Abraham and Sarah’s lives, we can begin to discover our priorities.Regarding Sarah it says that she was one hundred years,
twenty years and seven years. Why the repetition of the word
"years?" Rashi says that she was as clean from sin at 100 as one
might be at 20 (20 is the minimum age at which Heaven punishes the
individual for sin). The first goal in life is to be clean. The mishna in
Kinnin states that "Wise people, the older they get, the calmer they
feel." They have resolution and acceptance of life. The same wise
people at the Succoth festivities would say, "We are glad that our
youth did not bring shame to our old age." Our goal should be to
achieve self-respect and be able to hold our heads high. The second lesson we learn from Avraham. At the end of
his life he is described as coming along in years. The Hasidic commentary
known as the Degel Machaneh Ephraim says that Avraham taught us to always
be growing. Growth comes both from deep life experience and from learning
Torah. The third lesson of the week comes from the words, G-d
blessed Avraham with everything, ‘bakol’. Meaningful life, says Reb
Elimelech of Luzinsk comes from being concerned for the "klal",
the community. Through community involvement, we can bring meaning to our
lives. We hope we can learn these three important lessons of building
self-esteem, continuously growing and giving to our community as ways of
living meaningful lives.
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