The entire Torah is simultaneously one big lesson, a series of questions, and challenging encounters. Sometimes I enjoy reading the parshiyot because they bring new ideas, moments of clarity, or beautiful lessons. And sometimes I struggle because the stories or people are not good, kind or moral. But that is the beauty of the Torah – as much as I think I know the stories, personalities and their qualities, or as many times as I read it anew, there is always a new perspective, a new lesson. 

There are many lessons and many questions in this parashah, but one thing I noticed this time around is connected to some of our most fundamental values: hospitality, kindness, and humility.  

Avraham’s servant decided to create a test so he could choose the best wife for Isaac. He focuses on the kindness of a stranger. When we meet Rebecca, we are introduced to this type of kindness that the servant was looking for. In addition to that, we encounter Rebecca’s and Laban’s hospitality when they offer Avraham’s servant to stay at their house. When Rebecca meets Isaac, she humbly covers her face, and she comforts Isaac after his mother’s death.  

Parashat Chayyei Sarah is filled with kindness, compassion, gratitude, and humility. In today’s world, which is often painted with injustice, unfairness, sadness or cruelty, it feels more important than ever to go back to our texts and remind ourselves of the basics: it costs nothing to be kind, or humble or to help people, and at the same time it can make a great difference in someone’s life.  

How do you show up today and live the values you believe in? 

How do you pass those values on to the people around you and the next generations?