…and Avraham came to eulogize Sarah and to cry for her. And Abraham arose from before his dead, and he spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, “I am a stranger and an inhabitant with you. Give me burial property with you, so that I may bury my dead from before me.” (Breishis 23: 3-4)
to eulogize Sarah and to cry for her: The account of Sarah’s demise was juxtaposed to the binding of Yitzchok because as a result of the news of the “binding,” that her son was prepared for slaughter and was almost slaughtered, her soul flew out of her, and she died. — Rashi
Avraham Avinu endured ten great tests in his lifetime and most probably millions of micro tests as well. Most everyone agrees, however, that the height of heights, the test of all tests, was when Avraham was told to bring his son, his only son, the son he loved, Yitzchok to be brought up for an offering at the Akeida. Yet, Rabeinu Yona counts the purchase of a burial plot for Sarah as the 10th test. How is anything a test after the Akeida?
A little more than a week ago I was invited to speak at a meeting of local Rabbanim who were gathering to lend support and encouragement to the county DA that was up for election, Mr. Tom Walsh. He was visibly shaken up because he had taken a principled position in favor of a Jew that some other local authorities desperately wanted to make an example of. Since making his unpopular decision he and his staff were subjected to intimidation and threats. This was all very new and uncomfortable for him. I think they asked me to speak because they felt I could relate to this old Irishman best with my all-American background. It comes in handy once in a while.
I told him, “Tom, I want to speak a language that I don’t think the Rabanim here will understand, but you will. I would like to tell you about one of my greatest heroes. He was most famous for what he didn’t do. At the turn of the century Sport Illustrated crowned him the athlete of the century. He was disproportionately more successful in his game than any other athlete in their sport. A Jewish boy, a baseball pitcher for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers, Sandy Koufax. In 1965 he didn’t pitch in the 1st game of the world series which fell on the holiest of days, Yom Kippur.
In spite of all his athletic accomplishments, when you look him up on Wikipedia already in the 2nd line it is written that he didn’t pitch in the 1st game of the world series in 1965 because it fell out on Yom Kippur. His behavior sent a shockwave down the spine of the Jewish people and the entire world. He delivered a message, “There is something more important than baseball”. I was also an aspiring baseball pitcher and this stirred around within me for a long time and made a huge difference in my life. You can only imagine the pushback and heat he took from teammates and management and fans. Some people, the Talmud tells us, acquire their entire world in one move. I don’t know what else he did with his life but this single deed will stand out forever.
Mr. Walsh, Tom, by taking a principled stance and doing what is just and right, you are now facing the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and I know it’s not easy. What you did sent a shockwave across Rockland County and delivered a message that, “There is something more important than politics”. Some people earn their entire world in one move. I want you to do me a favor, Mr. Walsh and that is, please do not regret for a moment what you have done. You have a giant diamond. It is priceless. The more you struggle because of what you did, the more valuable that diamond becomes. You have something more than the endorsement of these Rabbanim and the Jewish community. You have a blessing from the Creator of Heaven and Earth!”
Why did I ask him not to regret what he did? The Rambam writes that just as someone can erase a sin with regret, so too a person can erase a Mitzvah with regret. A wealthy businessman once told me that he knows someone who gave away tens of millions of dollars to Tzedaka and then his fortunes reversed. He heard a little voice chirping in his head saying, “If only you had not given away all that money you would have plenty now!” He shouted at that voice, “QUIET!” He never gave it another thought. It would not bring his money back but it might erase the merit of all he had achieved. So it was that Avraham lost Sarah because of the Akeida, Rashi tells us. He had to tell that voice chirping in his head, “QUIET!” Sadness won’t bring Sarah back and regret may undo all the good that was done!