Parshat Chayei Sara
Rabbi Jablinowitz
This week's parsha begins with the Torah telling us how many years Sarah lived. The Torah says that she lived Meah Shanah V'Esrim Shanah V'Sheva Shanim, Shnei Chayei Sarah. After stating that Sarah lived for one hundred twenty seven years, the pasuk concludes by saying these are the years of Sarah. Rashi teaches the unique wording of the pasuk indicates a consistency exhibited by Sarah throughout her life. She was equally free of sin throughout her life and maintained a level of beauty throughout her years as well.
These words of Rashi are taken from the Medrash Rabbah on Bereishis (58, 1) which quotes a pasuk from Tehillim (Chapter 37, Pasuk 18), Yode'a Hashem Yemei Temimim, Gd knows the days of those who are complete. K'Shem Sheheim Temimim, Kach Shenoseihem Temimim, Just as they are complete so are their days complete. According to the Medrash, this is a reference to Sarah whose days were complete in the sense that her actions were always consistent. Regardless of what difficulties and struggles she might have encountered in life she maintained a consistency and equilibrium in her deeds and actions.
The Sfas Emes explains a deeper connection in the Medrash comparing the perfection of the righteous and the perfection of their years based on the words of the pasuk Yemei Temimim. Firstly, the word tamim means complete and without blemish. Each person is created with the goal of moving towards perfection. And the way a person does this is through the days of his life. When Hashem created the world the pasuk says (Chapter 1, Pasuk 5), Vayikra Elokim L'Ohr Yom, Gd called the light day. He brings in the name of his grandfather the Chidushei HaRim that we learn from here that every day contains within it a special light. In order to become Tamim and grow towards perfection one must use every day to its utmost and gain as much as he can from the light contained within each day. Hashem is Mechadesh B'Tuvo B'Chol Yom Tamid Ma'asei Bereishis. Every day contains within it a newness and freshness of creation by Hashem and the Tzaddik needs to be inspired daily and feel this light every day.
This idea is famously taught by Chazal in a few places as Hayom. Rashi brings on the pasuk in Keriyas Shema (Devarim, Chapter 11, Pasuk 13), that one should view himself as having been commanded the mitzvos of the Torah on that very day, Hayom, meaning today. This is the meaning of Yemei Temimim, the days of those who are complete. Those who move towards perfection spend each day growing and finding the light within each day, seeing the mitzvos they fulfill as new and exciting even on a daily basis.
Another meaning of the word Tamim is as it's used in the pasuk in parshat Shoftim (Chapter 18, Pasuk 13), Tamim Tihyeh Im Hashem Elokecha, You shall be complete with Hashem your Gd. Rashi explains that one should not attempt to predict the future or question how Hashem runs the world, but rather one needs to accept everything Hashem does. According to this p'shat, the challenges in one's life can cause him to question why certain things happen. The Tamim in this context is one who has a simple, accepting attitude. The Yemei Tamimim are spent in serving Hashem with consistency and simple faith. The Sfas Emes explains that when one serves Hashem with Temimus he becomes closer to Hashem and no longer finds the bumps in life as challenges to his faith. His Temimus enables him to move beyond the monotony of time and to see meaning in an otherwise physical, natural world.
Either way one understands the concept of Tamim, the Medrash is teaching us the way of the righteous; in order for them to be complete their days need to be complete. And the concept of their days being complete, Yemei Temimim, is to find the beauty and the holiness of Hashem's world every single day. The monotony of life can cause us to lose perspective. When we look for the light and the creativity contained in every single day and search for Hashem when He is not so apparent to us, that's when the days of our lives become Yemei Temimim.
Good Shabbos
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