Shalom my friends, this is Simcha Hochbaum of Hebron standing outside the Maarat HaMachpela getting ready for Shabbat Chayei Sarah. There are 25 – 40,000 people expected to come here. To be able to live with the time, to live with the portion of the week.
You can feel the excitement in the air. Something is palpitating over here. With that, we want to bless all our friends who aren’t privileged to be here this Shabbat.
In the passuk, the way that God blesses Avraham is that Avraham Avinu’s getting old in years. The Torah tells us in chapter 24 וְאַבְרָהָ֣ם זָקֵ֔ן בָּ֖א בַּיָּמִ֑ים וַֽה’ בֵּרַ֥ךְ אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֖ם בַּכֹּֽל
A lot of times in life we measure people by how many years they actually lived. And whether they have long years or not.
Then the something called in the Talmud אריכות ימים to have long days.
Every day is filled. Every day is special. Every day is productive. Every day is reaching your ultimate purpose and filling the world with goodness and God’s light.
And that’s why it says אַבְרָהָ֣ם זָקֵ֔ן , it wasn’t just told .בָּ֖א בַּיָּמִ֑ים All his days were filled.
We want to bless everyone בַּכֹּֽל with all.
The Talmud has a machloket and there are many opinions in the commentaries. Was “Bakol” actually a son that Avraham was blessed with? Bakol is the numerical value of 52 as Ben — Bet Nun, 52. Or that Avraham had a daughter whose name was Bakol. Or that Avraham has a healing stone that was around his neck that gave healing powers and healed all those who were sick anyone who would look at that stone.
But mostly want to bless everyone that they should feel in their life that they have Bakol. That God has given them all.
As God says regarding Sarah Imenu’s life, “kulam shavin letova” all her days were equal in goodness.
We should really be blessed, all the Jewish people, to come this week, to be with the Avot and Imachot and to see the unification, parents, children, longevity, nachat from our children, good health and prosperity and the right perspective on life to be blessed Bakol.
Amen, amen. Shabbat shalom.
