The Life of Sara

This week's Parsha is named for the Jewish Matriarch Sara.

It wants to tell us that she died, but instead, it tells us how she lived.

Sara lived for 127 years.

The Torah is always particular, and one of its study rules in the text is that the words are tight; the text is frugal. Anything extra is a clue about a deeper meaning.

So, when the Torah tells us in print "Sara lived 100 years, and 20 years, and 7 years"--- we wonder about the verbosity.

Why didn't it simply say 127 years?

In hopes of clarifying the matter, medieval French commentator Rashi throws out a one-liner--- The years, "they were all equal in goodness."

All of her years were equal, parallel, identical, even-steven--- for good?

Is this possible?

Even with the Torah's meager narrative, we know about Sara's trauma (Two kings tried to violate her), sorrows (she was barren until her 90s), and pain (her only child was offered up for a sacrifice).

She left an idolatrous home and forged a new path with her husband, Avraham. I can imagine that she had a fulfilling life, but what does the Torah mean that all of it was equal for good?

Is that even a good thing, to have a uniform, steady, imperturbable life?

Surely, that makes an awful novel and a boring movie.

So what does "they were all equal in goodness mean"---- It means this:

When Sara was feeling beautiful, she recognized her gift of beauty.

When she had a good meal, she recognized the gift of bounty.

When she hosted guests, she recognized the gift of abundance.

When she was abducted, she recognized the gift of the blow.

When she was barren, she recognized the gift of beseeching.

When she had a baby, she recognized the gift of breastfeeding.

Despite hardships, she recognized her blessings.

The Parsha wants to tell us that Sara dies, but instead, it tells us how she lived.

She lived with the equanimity of knowing everything that comes from Hashem is good.

Her years, they were all equal in goodness.