Ezra-Habonim, the Niles Township Jewish Congregation

Rabbi Weill's Message

"Chayel Sarah"

November 13th, 2025

Dear Friends,

Chayei Sarah, this week's Torah portion, notes that Sarah died at 127 years old, but it is written strangely: "The life of Sarah consisted of one hundred years, twenty years and seven years -- the years of Sarah’s life." A traditional interpretation explains that her years are divided into three sections to indicate that at 100, Sarah was as innocent as she was at 20, and at 20, she was as pretty as when she was seven. I appreciate that our sages depict Sarah as leading a life of innocence, but I am uncomfortable with its prioritization of youth and beauty over the wisdom that comes with age.

In the next scene, Torah describes Abraham as "old, advanced in years." Because this is the first use of the word "zakein," old, in Torah, one clever sage imagined that, prior to Abraham, human beings never physically aged. They did not become gray; they had no wrinkles. For this reason, people would often confuse Abraham for his son Isaac and vice versa. Abraham then prayed that God would give him the physical markers of aging. God assented; Abraham -- and the rest of us -- started looking our age.

We might be tempted to resent Abraham for this fate, but his reasoning had merit. He wanted humanity to distinguish between those who had -- through life experience -- earned and accrued wisdom. Wrinkles, according to midrash, reveal our "splendor and majesty." Gray hair is a crown of wisdom.

We often rue the physical consequences of the passage of years. That is understandable, for old age brings unwelcome changes and limitations. On the other hand, each passing year offers us the potential to mature. May we all be healthy and strong, and may we proudly wear our crowns of wisdom.

Rabbi Jeffrey Weill