Just One Last Dance

Leann Shamash
Nov 12
3 min read

The first words of Parshat Chayei Sarah informs us of the death of Sarah, but they do so in an unusual way, by highlighting her eventful life by separating the century, the decade and the individual years.

וַיִּהְיוּ֙ חַיֵּ֣י שָׂרָ֔ה מֵאָ֥ה שָׁנָ֛ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְשֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֑ים שְׁנֵ֖י חַיֵּ֥י שָׂרָֽה׃

Sarah’s lifetime—the span of Sarah’s life—came to one hundred and twenty-seven years. Genesis 23:1

Sarah's death seems so sudden and mysterious. As the Midrash says, Sarah died from the shock of hearing that her son had been sacrificed. Avraham did what he felt he must do to prove his faith, but Sarah's death must have come as a surprise even to Avraham, who is left bereft, indicated by the care with which he chooses a burial spot for his wife, even as as he was a stranger in a strange land.

I learned this week that despite Avraham marrying for a second time to Keturah, and fathering more children, we never hear more about significant interactions with Gd, such as the ones were described in Lech Lecha and Vayera. Following Sarah's death Avraham has one task that remains, which is to find a son for his son Yitzhak, which Eliezer accomplishes on his behalf. Avraham's work is now complete and he goes on to live a quieter life until he dies at the age of 175.

It was with Sarah that Avraham embarked upon an incredible journey and together they lived a rich life. I like to think that following Sarah's death, Avraham lived in shades of black and white, but while Sarah was by his side, he lived in technicolor. There is nothing wrong with a life in black and white, but it is the vivid technicolor that is recalled.

It is with sadness that we bid farewell to Sarah and Avraham. They play a pivotal role in the development of monotheism and the beginnings of Judaism and as suddenly as they appear, they are gone. And so in this post, I take a brief poetic moment to explore Avraham's love for his life's partner and beloved companion, before he gets up and begins the remainder of his many years.

Thanks for taking the time to read this....this, well.......well.... poem about love. Do take the time to listen to Leonard Cohen's Dance Me to the End of Love, as it is the inspiration for this piece.

Shabbat Shalom,

Leann