Parshas Chayei Sarah

A Heart Homeward Bound

By Rabbi Label Lam

Avraham expired and died in a good old age, old and satisfied, and he was gathered to his people. (Breishis 25:8)

Here we discover a fascinating set of facts that are not nearly as morbid as one might think at first glance. There three ways or better yet three stages to what we call dying. Imagine a car driving on the highway. The car breaks down. Then the driver gets out of the car. Then he gets a hitch a ride home.

These are the three steps mentioned explicitly in the verse. “Avraham expired”, that is his body ceased functioning. He “died” means that his body and soul separated. The word, “vayamas” (he died) may have its etymological roots in the word “yamoosh” which menas “removed”. The soul is effectively removed from its identification with the body. Then “he was gathered up to his people” which tells us that he entered into Olam Haba-the world to come!

The big question that the Chovos HaLevavos struggles with is, “Why does the Torah not tell us more about Olam Haba?” Wouldn’t that be a fascinating topic!? Amongst the many answers offered in the Gate of Trust is that Olam Haba is not an absolute guarantee based upon the specific performance of a certain number of Mitzvos! It’s not a business deal- a quid pro quo! No, it’s a relationship! How is the relationship measured?

A relatively newly married man struggling with Shalom Bais (peace in the home) approached his Rabbi for some advice. The Rabbi asked him if he had ever gotten his wife a bouquet of flowers on Erev Shabbos! He looked at the Rabbi curiously and admitted that he had not.

Then the Rabbi uncorked the first new big idea. “Make sure to get your wife fresh flowers every Erev Shabbos!” “That’s it!” queried the newly wed. “No!” the Rabbi insisted. “You must write personal note and or tell her something nice and flattering!” The poor young man looked at the Rabbi with bewilderment. “I have no idea what to say or recite!” The Rabbi then offered some nice not entirely cliché phrases that just might reach the desired mark. “Why am I the luckiest man on the face of the earth!?” “You are wonderful!”

Dutifully the student scouted out and selected an elegant bouquet prior to Shabbos and he chose a choice phrase that pays to recite at the appropriate moment. The moment arrived when he approached his wife on the eve of the Holy Shabbos and he presented the flowers. Her heart practically melted with joy and then she looked at as if right on cue and waited for him to say something, just as the Rabbi had predicted. He looked squarely in her direction and told her the following, “The Rabbi said I should say you are wonderful!”

Her smile collapsed into a sudden frown and he was almost back in the doghouse as before, but he did merit with the flowers a nice Shabbos dinner. Thinking about the words we pray momentarily before we say them may just add jet fuel of intentionality. Instead of saying, “The Men of the Great Assembly said I should say…”

The Chovos HaLevavos explains that Olam Haba is based on heart. The intoxicating flavor of this world is gifted for the external aspects of the Mitzvos but Olam Haba is hinging very much on the longing of a heart homeward bound!

DvarTorah, Copyright © 2007 by Rabbi Label Lam and Torah.org.