Perashat Haye Sarah 5777

Perashat Haye Sarah 5777

Friday, November 25, 2016 Author: Rabbi Elie Abadie

We have been hearing plenty about equal rights for women, equal work and equal pay. Mostly importantly, we have been hearing about “breaking the glass ceiling” and its significance and implications.  So much hope and expectation was placed on this slogan, that it became a “call for action” and a “cause célèbre” for many Americans, hoping to see the “first woman President” in the USA. As the results of the election came in, it was a great disappointment to many, to not see the “glass ceiling being broken”. If disappointment was not enough, “safe places”, “crying corners”, “counselling sessions”, “group therapy” and even “Shiba’a sitting” took place. This was an unprecedented, super-exaggerated reaction to the disappointment of not “breaking the glass ceiling”. It is not, as thought, as great a tragedy, such as  a devastating earthquake that killed thousands of people, a Tsunami, or a Hurricane, that destroyed an entire swath of cities, or a war that has killed over a half million people, or a Holocaust. Simply put, this was only a case of a woman not winning the election, all in the name of “breaking the glass ceiling”.

In Judaism, there is no such concept of “breaking the glass ceiling”, for there is no “ceiling to break”. 

Despite the popular belief that women do not play an important role in the ancient Jewish world, this week’s Perashat Haye Sarah, named for a woman, Sarah our Matriarch, paints quite a different picture.  Following the death of Sarah, her husband, Abraham, insists on acquiring a permanent burial place for his beloved wife. Abraham feels the need to mark his wife’s grave with a sense of permanency, and he goes to great lengths to purchase land from his neighbors for that purpose.  Abraham insists on an exorbitant monetary exchange to insure his ownership of the grave which becomes known as Me’arat HaMakhpelah, the Cave of the Patriarchs.

Our Sages ask, as to why Abraham had to go to such great lengths to acquire such a prominent piece of real estate, for such an expensive price, and insisting that it be a public sale and transaction? Several answers are given. The most important one, is to demonstrate his love, respect and admiration of his wife Sarah; the Matriarch of the Nation, the leader of his family and the pace setter of his household. 

This is a true testament to the stature of Sarah Imenu, and the great devotion that Abraham had for her.  After all, she was the one who discerned that Ishmael was not a good influence on her son Isaac, and advised Abraham to banish Ishmael, concerning which G-d said to Abraham: “listen to her”. She was the life-partner of Abraham and his confidant. 

The praises of yet another woman leader were sung in this Perasha. The Torah describes at great length the search for Isaac’s wife; her character, initiative and creativity.  It is the character of Ribkah that attracts Abraham’s servant Eliezer. She shows leadership, kindness and care towards Eliezer and his entourage, and she is immediately chosen as the perfect soul mate for Isaac.  

In the next Parashiot, we will be reading about the leadership role of Ribkah, her wisdom and her creativity. It was Ribkah’s leadership role that established the principles and assured the safety and continuity of the nascent Jewish People. Without her, our history would have been different, if non-existent. 

The history of the Jewish people is full of examples of great  women leaders. In addition to all the Matriarchs, we had Yokhebed, Miriam the Prophetess, Deborah, the Judge, Abigail, Huldah, another Prophetess, Queen Esther, Yehudit and many more. Even in Modern times, we had Dona Gracia Nasi, Prime Minister Golda Meir and many more. 

As I mentioned above, in Judaism, there is no such concept of “breaking the glass ceiling”, for there is no “ceiling to break”. 

In the face of ancient civilization’s view of women and their mistreatment, Judaism and Torah values revolutionized that view and gave the proper respect, esteem and appreciation to women. Jewish women were always respected, and their opinions and their character helped shape the conscience of the Jewish nation.  This remains true to this very day.  In Judaism, our women are all treated as NeShei Hayil - “Women of Valor”.   We have no “ceiling to break”.  May it soon be so in the rest of the world.