Parshas Cheyei Sarah: Thank you Hashem!

Rabbi Yair Degani

The Parsha enumerates the length of Sarah Imeinu's life in a strange way. “Sarah’s lifetime was 100 years, 20 years and 7 years; the years of Sarah’s life.” Why does the Torah not simply say that she lived 127 years?

I once heard a Pshat which is very relevant for the times we are living in. Throughout Sarah Imeinu’s life, she would always say “Mizmor L’soda,” Psalm 100, which thanks Hashem. Even when she was going through a difficult time and would have to say Kapital Chof (20) which talks about “Yaancha Hashem B’yom Tzara” (may G-d answer you on the day of distress), she would still say “Thank you Hashem.” Even when she was surrounded by enemies and would be in a situation of needing to say “Shigayon L’Dovid”, Psalm 7, she would still say “Thank you Hashem.” So the Pasuk is telling us that Sarah lived her life saying “Thank you Hashem” (100) even when she was in a situation of distress (20) or surrounded by her enemies (7). We should learn from Sarah Imeinu that in any difficult situation we encounter, Hashem is in control and we need to say “Thank you Hashem.”

There is a story of a poor furniture maker, Yankel, from Poland, who did not have enough money to put food on the table. His Rav suggested that he try to get a job in America, but no matter what happens he should always express gratitude to Hashem. He traveled to America and met somebody named Nick, who hired Yankel to make furniture while Nick did the sales, splitting the profits 50/50. It was nearing the end of a successful year when Yankel got a telegram from Poland saying that his father had died and he had to sit Shiva.

Towards the end of the Shiva, Nick came by and told him that he needed his signature to take out money from the bank to pay him. He trusted Nick and signed the paper. The day after Shiva, he went to work, but noticed the lights off and the door locked. He quickly ran to the bank. The bank manager broke the news to him that the paper he had signed was a letter saying to transfer all the money in his account to Nick.

He went home and, through his tears, kept on saying “Thank you Hashem.” Eventually, he left his house and walked by his old store. A couple of frequent customers went over to him and asked him to make furniture for them and he realized that he could really run his own business. He went to the bank manager and asked for a loan so he could start up his business again. The bank manager agreed to lend him the money on condition that he begin studying for the tests to earn a green card so he could legally lend him money as an American citizen. Yankel eventually took the test, passed it and became an American citizen. He got a real loan and ran a successful business, making even more money than he had while working with Nick.

Eventually, he returned to Poland, having learned why the Rabbi told him to always be grateful to Hashem, but he was soon to find out an even bigger reason.1939 arrived and rumors were spreading that Jews throughout Europe were being sent to concentration camps as part of Hitler’s “Final Solution”. Many people raced to the American embassy to try to get a ticket out of the country but to no avail. Yankel went to the teller at the embassy, and before he was sent home like everybody else, he presented his green card, and because he was an American citizen, he was able to obtain tickets for him and his family to get out of Poland.

May we all merit to say “Thank you Hashem“ even in difficult situations and see his kindness!