Chayei Sarah: Sarah’s Legacy: Inclusion Requires Boundaries
Liluei Nishmas Ita bas Chanoch Aharon Bistritzky
This week’s parsha, Chayei Sarah, literally means “the life of Sarah.” Even though the parsha begins with Sarah’s passing, her legacy and perspective remain alive and influential. Avraham’s actions after her death—purchasing the Cave of Machpelah, ensuring Yitzchak marries someone from his family, and solidifying the exclusivity of the Jewish mission—are a testament to how deeply Sarah’s lessons were internalized. Through her guidance, we learn that before we can share Hashem’s light with the world, we must first cultivate and protect the holiness within our own space.
Sarah’s insistence on exclusivity is evident in the story of Hagar and Yishmael. When Sarah demanded their expulsion, Avraham initially struggled with the idea, as his natural inclination was to include and embrace all. However, Hashem explicitly commands him, “Whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her voice”, validating Sarah’s vision. Her insistence that Yitzchak grow up in a pure, untainted environment is a cornerstone of the Jewish mission: holiness requires boundaries.
After Sarah’s passing, we see how Avraham fully embraces this principle. He purchases the Cave of Machpelah to bury Sarah, insisting on owning it outright rather than accepting it as a gift. By doing so, he not only honors Sarah but establishes the Jewish people’s permanent connection to Eretz Yisrael. This sacred space, beginning with Sarah’s burial site, symbolizes the Jewish nation’s unique mission: to cultivate holiness within their own space as a foundation for spreading Hashem’s light to the world.
This lesson is reinforced when Avraham seeks a wife for Yitzchak. Avraham explicitly instructs Eliezer to find a wife from his family in Charan, refusing to allow Yitzchak to marry the daughters of Canaan—even Eliezer’s own daughter, despite her loyalty and closeness to the family. This decision reflects Avraham’s commitment to Sarah’s vision: the Jewish nation must maintain its sanctity and distinct identity to fulfill its divine mission.
This dynamic between inclusivity and exclusivity applies to many aspects of life. A teacher who wants to inspire all their students must first establish clear boundaries in the classroom to create an environment conducive to learning. Parents must prioritize the values and needs of their children, even if it means being firm about influences or activities that might seem benign to others. A family must define its own identity before it can engage meaningfully with the broader community.
Consider the example of a laser. Its power comes from being highly concentrated and focused. If the light is scattered, it loses its intensity and becomes ineffective. The same is true for us. To fulfill our mission of bringing Hashem’s light to the world, we must first ensure that our light is concentrated, protected, and nurtured.
This concept is especially relevant to our understanding of Eretz Yisrael and the Jewish people’s unique connection to it. Hashem gave us this small, sacred piece of land—not to share or dilute, but to cultivate as the foundation of our holiness and mission. It is within this exclusive space that we develop our relationship with Hashem and draw the strength to fulfill our role in the broader world.
We are not entitled to Eretz Yisrael because of any inherent greatness on our part, but because Hashem chose us, through the merit of our forefathers, to be His representatives in the world. This chosenness is not about privilege or ego but about responsibility. If we hesitate to assert that Eretz Yisrael belongs to the Jewish people or that we are Hashem’s chosen nation, it reflects a weakness in our spiritual identity. How can we spread godliness to the world if we are unsure of who we are and where we belong?
Even after her passing, Sarah’s teachings remain central to the Jewish mission. Her insistence on protecting the sanctity of our people and our land laid the groundwork for Avraham’s actions and the Jewish people’s identity. Only by embracing this exclusivity can we fulfill our universal purpose, spreading Hashem’s light to all corners of the world.
Adapted from “Life Talks on the Parsha”