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Ode to the Jewish Woman
In this week's Parsha, Chayei Sora, the Torah tells us of Sarah Imeinu's (our mother Sarah, the wife of Avrohom) death. The name of the Parsha translates as "The Life of Sarah". In fact, the Torah teaches us that Sarah's life was a life where every day of her life was lived. Every day brought growth and meaning to her and to others whose lives she touched.
I would like to dedicate this newsletter to life of Sarah Imeinu. In her role of being the first Jewish woman, she set the path upon which Jewish women walk and upon which they build their Jewish homes. Although there is much to say about Sarah's life in specific I would like to address the role of the Jewish woman in general.
The strength of a nation is directly related to the strength of that nation's family life. What happens to the family will happen to the nation. The future generations of the nation grow from the soil of its family. If this soil is well tended its produce will be wholesome and prepared to create its own soil from which to grow the next generation. There is no way to overestimate the value of the family's role in the health and overall well-being of a nation.
We, the Jewish people know this better than any other people. We have had no land, no central institutions of learning or culture for over 2,000 years. We have been dispersed throughout the globe during that time and we still have our Torah and way of life in its original form. What is the secret of our preservation? Family. Throughout our history no matter what adversaries we had to contend with we always had our families.
The Jewish woman finds herself as the heart of the Jewish family. It is with her insight and dedication, her affection and wisdom that she forms the environment of the Jewish home that houses the Jewish family.
As we look throughout nature we find that HaShem blessed every creature with the skills it requires to accomplish its tasks. Plants need to be pollinated in order to produce fruits. HaShem blessed the bees with that capability so that they accomplish that task. Ants need tremendous strength to build their homes, their tunnels and mounds. HaShem granted them that strength.
Women are blessed with remarkable qualities that men do not have. (I am guilty of generalizing but for the sake of our discussion allow me that sin.) The Talmud teaches us that women are blessed with a greater dose of intuition than men. Without that extra sense of insight many problems could fester before they are noticed when it might be too late to react. Mothers understand the child's needs and can better address those needs. The Talmud teaches us that women understand their guests better than their counterparts. This quality is critical in building a family. Without proper understanding of the strangers who come into the home all kinds of viruses could enter and infect the family.
The Jewish woman has an inner beauty than shines in her home where the children admire her and aspire to the greatness that she radiates. Her selfless graciousness becomes the standard that her children aim to achieve. The child's most formative years are spent in close proximity to his mother. She has the greatest influence on her child's attitudes, direction and general aspirations. She is truly the molder of the nation.
The Jewish woman truly deserves the honor and responsibility of creating the Jewish home.
Let us celebrate the Jewish woman, respect her in her role and be forever grateful to her for her contribution to the very survival and vibrancy of our people.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind
