Have you ever taken a moment to think, why is this week’s parsha called Chayei Sarah, the life of Sarah, when it speaks about her death? This week’s parsha is called “the life of Sarah” because while she passed away, she is still alive. When people die they leave a legacy behind them, which is a very powerful idea. Sarah didn’t know that she would be our matriarch. It was because of how she acted when faced with challenges and realized God’s hand that she is still alive today. When people pass away at a funeral or when one is sitting shiva, everyone discusses that person and their life. A life that was lived correctly filled with mitzvot, love and kindness towards others will not just be looked at as a chapter of death when they pass away but as a continuation of that person’s life through people who learned from them. Sarah Emeinu exemplified this phenomenon. We each have her legacy, but what will we make of it? We have to make the most of our time in this world. We must think about how we want to leave this world, with an impact or with nothing. We can continue to live on through future generations if we act upon our ideas and aspirations. Take a step toward creating a living legacy today!

By Shira Sedek