This week’s portion, Chayei Sarah, translates to “The Life of Sarah,” and focuses on the aftermath of Sarah’s death at the age of 127. It’s an important portion because Sarah herself was such a pivotal figure. In this section, we see Abraham focused on two main goals: finding a suitable burial place for Sarah and securing a wife for his son, Isaac. By examining these events, we can reflect on how we, too, can live a life like Sarah’s—one devoted to service to the Divine. This portion is particularly thought-provoking if you’re ready to critically evaluate your own life and motivations. After all, Sarah can be a difficult figure for us to connect with. She was not interested in external validation, and the only approval she sought was from G-d. Can we say the same about ourselves? This is one of the many questions Chayei Sarah challenges us to ask.

In Chayei Sarah, we read about a detailed negotiation between Abraham and Ephron, the owner of the land where Abraham wants to bury Sarah. This land is significant because it contains a cave, which represents a connection between our physical world and the world to come—a link between the material and the spiritual. This makes it an especially fitting gravesite for Sarah. Though both Sarah and Abraham served the Creator, they did so in very different ways. Abraham brought down G-d’s wisdom, working from above to below. Sarah, on the other hand, inspired a yearning for the Creator in the women of the earth, working from below upwards. This is what makes the cave particularly appropriate for her; it symbolizes her spiritual role.

But what does this have to do with us? Just as Sarah was a conduit between the material and the spiritual, we too are positioned between the two worlds. We have both a body and a soul, don’t we? Like Sarah, we should aim to use our bodies to support our spiritual goals.

One day, our bodies will come to the end of their purpose. If we live well, we will be filled with memories—a lifetime of experiences well-lived. But if we live poorly, we will be left with unfulfilled dreams and missed opportunities. To avoid this fate, we must first ask ourselves: where in our lives are we not fully engaged with existence? Spirituality enriches our lives by ensuring that our physical selves align with our higher selves. In other words, our bodies should follow our souls—not the other way around.

Remember, we don’t know how much time we have left in our bodies. If we are wasting our time, simply lounging around or staying within our comfort zone, avoiding challenges and the discomfort of growth, we are not living fully. This is not the kind of life Sarah lived. She did not shrink from discomfort or from the challenge of living a life in service to G-d. To live like Sarah is to live intentionally, to pursue spiritual growth and contribute to the world with our physical actions.

It’s also interesting to note that, while Abraham negotiates with Ephron, Ephron has no awareness of the spiritual significance of the cave on his land. He is willing to sell it for the right price, completely oblivious to its deeper meaning. Abraham does not try to educate him about the cave’s spiritual value, nor is it a sin that he does not. The truth is, some things are revealed only to those who are ready to receive them. Ephron was not ready to understand the spiritual power of the cave. The Divine reveals knowledge to us when we are prepared to receive it. This cave was not for Ephron; it was Abraham’s to claim for Sarah.

We, too, must take action to reclaim what is rightfully ours—spiritual truths that may have been obscured or taken away. This is a difficult process. There is a constant struggle between good and evil in the world, and we can see it everywhere we look. The choice is ours: do we choose to engage in this battle, or do we turn a blind eye? Our spirituality teaches us that this struggle is our purpose, and we should never shy away from it, even when it would be easier to do so.

When Abraham buys the cave and enters it, he is met by the spirits of Adam and Eve. They feel ashamed to see such a righteous man, knowing that their original sin had caused the corruption of the world. But in every failure, there is a lesson. We are not meant to be perfect—perfection is not the goal. What matters is which side we are on. Are we on the side of the Creator, or have we succumbed to the snake of evil? This is a crucial question. One sign that the snake is winning is when we fail to recognize our gifts as divine blessings. If G-d has made us wealthy, beautiful, or intelligent, it is because He wants us to use these gifts to improve the world around us.

Generosity is key. In this portion, we also see how Rebekah—despite coming from a family with questionable morals—demonstrates her intrinsic goodness through her generosity. When she offers water to Abraham’s servant, it reveals her true character. It is through this act of kindness that she proves she is worthy of marrying Isaac. Rebekah’s example calls us to action. Are we generous with what we have, as she was? Are we following Sarah’s example, seeking approval only from the Divine?

In the end, it is when we use our physical selves and material gifts to serve G-d that we live lives of true purpose. Only G-d’s approval matters. This is the central lesson of Chayei Sarah: we should live our lives in a way that reflects the Divine purpose, using our bodies and our material blessings to serve G-d and others. This is the kind of life Sarah led—and it is the life we should strive to emulate.