This week we read Parshat Chayei Sarah. I find the name of this week’s Torah portion ironic because it means the life of Sarah but the first sentence of the Torah portion says “the life of Sarah was one hundred and twenty-seven years. She dies in kiryat-arba—now Hebron—in the land of Canaan; and Abraham proceeded to mourn for Sarah and bewail her.” So even though this Torah portion is called the life of Sarah it deals entirely with her death and burial.
I want to focus in on one aspect of the first sentence, it says that Sarah lives to 127 years old. Why 127? What is so specific about that number? There is a Midrash that says, “Sarah retained the innocence of a 7 year old when she was 20, and the beauty of a 20 year old when she was 100.” (Genesis Rabba 58:1)
What does this mean? I understand the part about her beauty, certain people have good genes and they age more gracefully than others. But what about her innocence? Perhaps she was not exposed to all of the hardships of life that can make a person age. Maybe she was sheltered so much that she didn’t have to see first hand the pain and suffering of the rest of the world around her.
If given the choice to see the pain and suffering of others and age or not see the pain and suffering and not age I would probably pick the first one. I would make this choice because I always want to help those around me, especially those who are less fortunate and who are suffering. For that is what it means to be Jewish to me. The prophets that we read from every shabbat simply ask us to help our fellow people and to take care of each other and by doing so we are walking in Gods ways.
So will I live to 127, most likely not. However I will make sure I can help everyone I am able to and touch the lives of as many people as I come into contact with.
Wishing everyone a warm restful shabbat,
Cantor Kowitz
SERVICES
Friday, November 22 - Thursday, November 28
Friday 8:00 PM Kabbalat Shabbat
Saturday 9:00 AM Nosh and D'rash 9:45 AM Shabbat Service
Sunday 9:00 AM Minyan* (requested by Fran Firouzan & Sheila Bashkoff) - Merrick
10:00 AM Baby Naming - (Tarnofsky-Morrison Family) 8:00 PM Minyan* (requested by Iris Astrof) - Merrick
Monday 6:30 AM Minyan
Thursday 9:00 AM Minyan
*Sunday, November 24-Baby Naming & Minyans will be held at Temple Israel Annex-Merrick
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Are you the Bees Knees? The Cats Pajamas? Would you make a good mobster or his moll? Come find out as we turn the Merrick Campus into a rockin' Gin Joint for New Years Eve December 31, 8:30 PM Dinner and Dancing.
Our Alix Rubinger Kosher Food Pantry needs Increased membership contributions as well as ideas for other sources of income. We are now serving 15 to 20 families per week. While a lot of food is contributed to our pantry from supermarkets and other synagogues, it is still necessary to purchase needed food items.
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