When my children were in kindergarten they had an amazing teacher, the inimitable Morah Dena.
She wrote a sweet ditty which we still sing to this day.
“Sara’s Ohel (tent) as special as can be, clouds of Hashem (Gd) on top you can see.
Candles lit from week to week
Challah so fresh it can’t be beat
Sarah Imeinu (our matriarch) we miss you so
Rivka Imeinu will make your Ohel glow.
Let’s delve into the deeper message of this seemingly simple song.
This week’s Torah portion is Chayei Sara, which means the life of Sara. Yet the portion seems to focus on the details pursuing the death of Sara as Abraham deals with purchasing a burial plot for her.
The portion then continues with the saga of finding a wife for Isaac, Abraham’s son which is concluded successfully with the marriage to Rebecca. The Torah relates that Isaac was comforted from the loss of his mother when he married Rebecca.
Rashi the preeminent Torah commentary explains that there were three qualities that were unique to Sara’s tent which disappeared with her death. However, when Rebecca married Isaac, the three signs returned. This was a source of comfort to Isaac.
What were those signs?
Let’s reference Morah Dena:
- Cloud of Hashem on top you may see. This refers to the spiritual haven Sara was able to create. In her home, spirit was dominant. She created an environment which allowed for growth, vulnerability and created the ultimate safe haven. A stranger who might pass by would feel welcome as would the Divine presence. It was an uplifting place.
- Challah so fresh alludes to the weekly miracle that occurred. The bread she baked never became rancid or stale.
- Candles lit from week to week points to the miracle that the candles Sara lit did not extinguish themselves until she lit new candles the following week.
These unique attributes were so sublime they ultimately imitated by Gd in the Temple. There was a Cloud of Glory which represented Gd’s presence.
The show breads which were part of the Temple service, stayed fresh all week and never became moldy.
And the lit candles were symbolized in the Ner Tamid, one light of the Menora which was constant.
While these miracles may seem charming they clearly have a deeper aspect as they reflect the essence of Sara’s greatness and were replicated in the Temple itself.
The message to us, the daughters of Sara, is that when we create a home we are actually creating a miniature Temple, a safe place where souls can be nurtured, and the spirit can soar.
When these signs returned upon Rebecca’s arrival Isaac was comforted as he understood that the spiritual legacy of his mother was safely secured.
Robert Fulghum got it right when he wrote the book All I ever needed to know, I learned in kindergarten.
Thank you Morah Dena for focusing us on the potential at hand when we create our safe spaces.
Shabbat Shalom and so much love this week from Denver as we are blessed to celebrate the Bar Mitzva of our first grandson.