“V’Avraham zakein, ba bayamim, va-Adonai beirakh et Avraham bakol – and Abraham was old, come into [his] days, and Hashem blessed Abraham with all.” (B’reisheit 24:1)

Many of us share the sense that the passage of time seems to accelerate as we grow older.  Yet the certainty of mortality makes each day ever more precious.  Our parashah, “Hayei Sara – the life of Sarah,” teaches about life and death.  Paradoxically, Sarah’s death is described by counting the years of her life. 

Abraham’s eldering is then explained with reference to the days he lived.  He literally brought his days with him as he grew older.

As death approaches, we often look back at our lives and ask ourselves how well we lived each day.  Let us receive the blessing of Abraham who integrated the unique illumination and lessons of each day into his full self. 

With blessing for the affirmation of life we can discover as we contemplate our mortality.

Rabbi SaraLeya
19 Heshvan 5771
October 27, 2010