Parshah Vayechi (Genesis 47:28-50:26)

Why did Ya’acov let his favorite wife lie by the wayside, instead of carrying her at least into the city of Beitlechem, which was nearby? According to Ramban, the reason why Ya’acov didn’t bury Rachel in the Cave of Machpelah was in order that he should not be buried together with two sisters, for Torah law forbids marrying two sisters. Since Leah was his first wife, she was buried with Ya’acov, despite the fact that Rachel was his first love. Rashi explains the deeper reason why Rachel had to be buried by the wayside. Ya’acov buried her there by the command of G-d, so that Rachel would help her children in future times when Nebuzaradan would drive them into captivity. When the Jews were to pass along the road, Rachel would come forth from her grave and stand by her tomb weeping and beseeching mercy for her children:
Thus says Hashem, A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, she refused to be comforted for her children, because they are not. Thus says Hashem, Keep your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears; for your deed shall be rewarded says Hashem; and they shall come back again from the land of the enemy. There is hope for your future, says Hashem, that your children shall come back again to their own border (Yirmeyahu 31:14–16).

WHY DID SARAH DENY?

“Then Sarah denied, saying, ‘I laughed not; for she feared.’ ‘And he said, no, you did laugh’” (ibid. 18:15). Ohr HaChayim comments on the words: “for she feared,” explaining that the heart of the faithful servant will be filled with fear even over an accidental transgression. Nevertheless, all the commentaries are astonished that the righteous Sarah would deny the words of G-d. According to Sfat Emet, Sarah had already repaired the sin of her laughter, erasing it by means of her immediate repentance. However, only repentance out of love and not out of fear transforms the transgression into merit. At first, Sarah had only repented out of fear, as it states, “for she feared.” Therefore, Avraham reprimanded her saying, “but you did laugh,” meaning that a different quality of repentance was still necessary in order to transform the blemish of having laughed to the extent that it could become a merit. The indication that Sarah succeeded in reaching this level of repentance is expressed in the name of Yitzchak, which means “he will laugh.” When Sarah gave him this name, she happily exclaimed, “G-d has made laughter for me” (ibid. 21:6). By returning to Hashem in perfect love, she was able to transform and raise up the quality of her laughter to become a source of blessing for all.

PEACE IS GREATER THAN TRUTH

“Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, ‘After I am faded shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also’? And Hashem said to Avraham, why did Sarah laugh, saying, shall I really bear, I being old?” (Bereishit 18:12-13) Rashi points out that G-d changed Sarah's words when addressing Avraham. Rather than quote Sarah's words – “…and my lord being old…” Scripture changes her words to maintain peace between them. From here we learn that one is permitted to change the truth for the sake of preserving peace between people. Rabbi S. R. Hirsch expresses a romantic outlook on marriage. He explains that no matter how old the husband may be, it is preferable that he doesn't know that his wife considers him old. To each other, husband and wife must forever remain youthful.

WHY DID SARAH LAUGH?

"Ohr HaChayim notices that Avraham also laughed when Hashem promised him that he would have a son with Sarah (ibid. 17:17). What is the difference between Avraham’s and Sarah's laughter? Onkelos translates Avraham's laughter as “chadei” - to rejoice - and Sarah's laughter “chayechet” - to mock. How can the same word be translated into two completely different meanings? Mattis Weinberg explains that Avraham spoke in a general language saying: “…Shall a child be born to him that is a hundred years old?” whereas Sarah placed herself in the center: “…after I was faded, I had pleasure?” Avraham spoke in the future tense indicating that the future might deviate from the usual way of the past. However, Sarah spoke in the past tense emphasizing that what was will continue to be, disbelieving the thought that the nature of her body would be altered. Nonetheless, Kli Yakar ascribes it to her praise that she only laughed within herself, never daring to bring this laughter to her lips. Sarah was only reproved for the little laughter in her thoughts. This only emphasizes her holy level; the sin Sarah had to refine was so subtle, so small.

WHERE IS HER SPIRITUAL PLACE?

Kli Yakar remarks that Avraham was already well aware of Sarah's modesty and did not need the angels to remind him. They actually did not ask for Sarah's physical location; rather their question was directed at her spiritual abode. They wanted to prevent Avraham from thinking it was Sarah's fault that they didn't have children, since the reward for modesty is to bear kings as we learn from Tamar (Megillah 10b). The question “where is Sarah?” thus meant: “At what level are her deeds that she should be worthy of a son?” The answer given is “in the tent.” The level of her modesty makes her worthy of giving birth to holy offspring. The mitzvah of welcoming guests also imparts the merit of bearing children. When we act with love for others by giving to guests, it follows that we are ready to behave lovingly to the guests of our womb. However, what is the connection between modesty and conceiving princely children? Perhaps we can explain thatbeing modest shows that we are ready to diminish our own selfhood in order to make room for someone other than ourselves. Humble parents will understand that their children are not their own possessions but rather images of G-d in their own right. This enables them to conceive extraordinarily high neshamot (souls), worthy of royalty.

BEHOLD IN THE TENT

Avraham answered that despite the importance of welcoming guests, “the honor of a king's daughter is within” (Tehillim 45:14). This is why Sarah, out of modesty, remained in the tent. According to Rashi the ministering angels' question was rhetorical, since they knew where Sarah was. They intended to call attention to her modesty and thus endear her to her husband. Rashi adds a second explanation: that the angels asked for Sarah in order to send her the wine cup of blessing. Sarah had to partake of this cup, since it brings blessings down from above and permeates the household with holiness. Until this day, it is a mitzvah for the husband to ensure that the kos bracha (wine cup of blessing held during grace after meal) is sent to his wife.

A BEAUTIFUL GARMENT FOR HER SOUL

Women are drawn to beauty and harmony. Therefore, we delight in beautiful garments. Just as wine helps a man bring out his thoughts and express himself, similarly, through her clothing, a woman expresses the creativity of her soul. The halachic requirement for man to wear a belt when he prays to Hashem indicates that men are required to make a conscious separation between their upper spiritual soul and lower physical body (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 91:2). However a woman's body is a much more refined garment for her soul. This is reflected in the beautiful dresses with which she wraps her body that become an extension of her spirit. Therefore, no division is necessary. Nice clothing makes her happy, because it enables her to beautify and express her innermost being.