Parshas Chayei Sara: Reflections on Life

“His (Abraham’s) sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah” (Genesis 25:9)
“From here we see that Ishmael repented, by virtue of his allowing Isaac to walk ahead of him, out of respect even though Ishmael was older” (Rashi ibid, quoting Talmud Bava Basra 16b)

Rabbi Meir Simcha HaKohen of Dvinsk (1843-1926) in his commentary Meshech Chochma explains Ishmael’s original sin which caused the expulsion from his house as being his scorning of Abraham by saying that Abimelech fathered Isaac. (According to Sforno) Therefore his repentance was attained through recognizing that Abraham fathered Isaac. Other commentators understand Ishmael’s sin was the perpetration of the three cardinal sins: idolatry, adultery, and murder.
The astounding fact remains that at the end of Ishmael’s sinning life, he returned to his roots. We always hear about Ishmael’s legacy prior to his repentance, but ultimately he vindicated himself.

Was it too late for Ishmael to repent?
The Midrash tells us that the reference to Abraham dying at a good old age (Gen. 25:8) refers to Ishmael’s repentance which brought comfort to his aging father. Ishmael returned just in time.
Oftentimes people view themselves as incorrigible sinners or non-practicing Jews. The question we must ask ourselves is, when is the cut off age to return back home?

Dr. Avraham Schwartzbaum OB”M (author of “The Bamboo Cradle”) moved his 96 year old secular mother to his home in Jerusalem. Shortly after her arrival she decided to become more observant by keeping Shabbos and Kashruth in addition to other mitzvoth, which she continued to keep until her death. Dr. Schwartzbaum was fond of telling people that they could still come closer, that is at least until age ninety-seven!

A Hassidic Jew from Boro Park, NY proudly proclaimed to a well-known Rabbi that he helped bring an 84 year old lady back to her Jewish roots. How does a Hassidic Jew living in an insular enclave achieve such a feat? It turned out that he owned a nursing home in Florida whose entire population was non-Jewish save for four Jews. His rabbi ruled that he must provide Kosher meals for the Jewish clients, which he did at a tremendous cost to himself. One year, on the last day of a two week government inspection of his facility, the inspector was heading out the door to the owners great relief. All of a sudden, Sadie, one of the Jewish ladies, called out to the inspector “Sir, this man is discriminating against me. He serves me different food than everybody else here.” The Hassidic man worked up a panic. He explained to the inspector that she is getting much better (Kosher) food than the other clients. The Hassidic man than turned to the lady and explained to her that Kosher food is much healthier. She replied “I’m on my out anyways, the faster I go the better.” “Kosher food is more expensive and tastier,” he attempted. She retorted “My taste buds don’t work anymore, and frankly, I just want to be like everybody else.” The inspector turned to the owner and said “If you don’t rectify the situation within a week, I’ll personally shut you down!” The Hassidic Jew concluded his story “I don’t know how I did it. I guess it was because my entire livelihood depended on it. All I do know is that within a week, she committed to keeping kosher in addition to other observances!”

We see that it is never too late to come back home. The Talmud (Berachos 34b/ Sanhedrin 99a) relates that the heavenly reward awaiting a penitent in the World to Come is even greater than that of a purely righteous individual (Tzaddik).

Similarly, the reason why the Hebrew letter “Heih” (ה) which represents this ephemeral world opens on both sides, is to send the emphatic message that penitents are always welcome, even if they enter through a shortcut into their spiritual existence. (Jerusalem Talmud Chagiga 10a)

Although Ishmael led an ignominious life, through his repentance he was assured a place in the World to Come. Judaism is replete with examples of penitents, but perhaps one of the most famous penitents was Rabbi Akiba. Until age forty he was an ignoramus shepherd who hated Torah scholars with such a passion that he would have preferred to bite them with the power of a donkey’s bone grinding bite as opposed to the mere flesh biting of a dog! (Talmud Pesachim 49b) When he turned forty he married, and his wife Rachel sent him off to begin studying Torah (like every good Jewish lady!). He became a Torah Scholar of the highest caliber and is responsible for transmitting all of the Oral Law which we study today. He could have given up while in his primitive existence, but he persevered. One day while Rabbi Akiba was teaching Torah, he suddenly had flashbacks of his prior Torah-less life. He exclaimed "I am so thankful to G-d for granting me an opportunity to place my destiny with the Torah scholars, as opposed to the loafers of the marketplace!" (Avoth D’Rebi Nosson 21:2)

Ishmael, Rabbi Akiva, Mrs. Schwatzbaum, and the Hassidic Jew from Boro Park all serve as a reminder that it is never too late. “As long as the flame is still burning, rectification is achievable!”

This past week commemorated the thirteenth anniversary of the passing of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach (1925 -1924). Reb Shlomo, as he was affectionately known, left a very colorful legacy which testifies to his complex and chatoyant life. Perhaps this episode that I heard from the protagonist himself will shed some light on Reb Shlomo. On a late Tuesday morning in a pizza shop on Thirteenth Avenue in Boro Park, NY, Yossele, a successful Hassidic businessman was standing in line waiting to order and none other than Reb Shlomo walked in. “Shalom Aleichem Reb Yid” Reb Shlomo bellowed. To this day, Yossele doesn’t know what overcame his usual sweet demeanor, but he replied, “Reb Shlomo, I cannot give you Shalom.” “What, you can’t give Shalom to a fellow Jew,” said Reb Shlomo. “Why not?” “Because although you have brought so many Jews back to their roots you also need to come back,” replied Yossele. “Gevalt, you’re so right,” said Reb Shlomo. “What could I do to receive a Shalom from you,” asked Reb Shlomo. “You must repent,” replied Yossele, as he proceeded to delineate some of Reb Shlomo’s growing edges. “Reb Shlomo was taken aback. He said “It’s true, it’s true, I have to change.” Reb Shlomo put his hand on his forehead for a couple of minutes. He then looked up and said “I’m going to return. I’m going to do teshuva! Now will you give me Shalom?” And Yossele stuck out his hand and greeted Reb Shlomo Carlebach with a warm Shalom Aleichem. That afternoon, Yossele turned on his radio, only to be shocked by the broadcaster’s announcement that Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach just had a heart attack and passed away on a plane from New York to Toronto. (See Talmud Avodah Zara 17a regarding Rebbi Eliezer Ben Durda'ee and Maharal’s understanding)

We can all come closer.

Ultimately, Ishmael's descendants will bring us to repentance through afflicting us. (Baal Haturim Deuteronomy 31:29,Talmud Sanhedrin 97b, Maimonides Hilchos Teshuva 7:5). Ishmael left a legacy of repentance and he and his descendents serve as the impetus for our home-coming today. But why do so many people wait until the final moment. Jews throughout the ages were willing to give up their lives to die a Jew. Thank G-d we have the opportunity to live as a Jew. Let's take advantage of the opportunity!