Parashas Chayei Sarah

Our Parsha this Shabbos is Parashas Chayei Sarah.
Sadly, this Parsha starts with the passing of our dear beloved Sarah.
Just when Avraham was happy and content that his son was still with him after the Akeidah, he returns to the saddest news. His beloved wife has passed.Such is the life of the Jew. Just as he is happy, something negative comes to hurt. We see this in our present day, while Jews are happily preparing for the Shabbos,when suddenly the news of an arab intefada hits, where arab terrorists are lighting wild fires in our Holy land. This is the traverse of the Jew throughout history. If only we would listen to Sarah's words who warned us about Hagar's son and progeny that their hand would be against all. Nine Eleven in America still rings pain among those who had families in that tragic terror attack. Sarah warned us and we need to be aware. Throughout History in our happiest times,the hurt of our people came to remind us that only in Mashiach's time will we all be truly safe. Our history back centuries is a sad reminder of man's inhumanity to man.For example, while we were celebrating happy joyous Chasene's (Weddings) in Lithuania, the Tzar's elite were burning down our houses and attacking our Torah Scrolls and people, women and children , in their horrific Pogroms. When in German society, our people were reaching higher positions, along came hitler to remind us we are Jews and was responsible for Six Million One Hundred and Twenty Three Thousand of our deaths,on their anti-Jewish souls, may Gehinnom be. This has been our lot as Jews through the centuries. Now we have to watch our Holy Land burning because of murderous killers who know nothing of G-D's Truth. 
So, in the life of a Jew, at the time of happiness, has come misery so many times. We , at the time of our Wedding Celebrations, break a glass, to remember the Destruction of our Holy Temples and also as to remind us that we as Jews will only be truly happy at the End Of Days at the Rebuilding of our Third and Final Holy Temple.
Avraham, the Jew, too suffered the pain of trials and tribulations at the time of his happiness.He came home to find his beloved wife Sarah had passed away.
When Sarah had awoken on the morning that Avraham had left for the Akeidah, she awoke not knowing where her beloved son and husband had gone. She heard that Avraham had taken him on a journey. It was at the very moment that Avraham had raised his hand to offer Yitzchak on the mountain that Og, the Giant had told her to look from afar for he had taken her up to a high mountain and she saw ( because of Og ) that her son was about to be slain . The shock of it was too much for her , something she wouldn't have seen had it not been for Og ( who wanted her for himself and wanted to distance her from Avraham ) , and so, the shock of this sight is what caused her to pass away. 
Our Sages suggest a reason of why this came upon her, as going back to the time where she asked HaShem to judge between him (Avraham) and her , which was a wrong action. The actions of the most Holy, need only be very small wrongs and they face greater response due to their greater holiness.We saw this with Moshe who could not enter the Holy Land due to the fact of striking the rock. 
So Avraham came home to the sad passing of his wife.
We see in the beginning of this Parsha that Sarah died in Kiriath Arba which, translated, means 'The City of Four.' This refers to the four giants - Arba and his three sons (Ahiman , Sheshai and Talmai ) whom Israel defeated there, that lived there and also prophetically, to the four holy couples who were to be buried there in the Cave of Machpelah in Mamre in Chevron - Adam Ve Chava, Avraham ve Sarah , Yitzchak ve Rivka and Yaakov ve Leah.This name Kiriath Arba also was the original name of Chevron as we see in the Book of Judges 1:10.
Our Parsha starts telling us of the passing of Sarah using the word 'Chayei Sarah ,' which means ' The Life of Sarah.' A very strange way to start telling us of her passing. HaShem had a specific reason for putting it this way and this explains a secret to life and death. What is death to us, is not the real picture, for we don't see the true reality. We are too small and too insignificant that we only see a minute part of things.The birth and death of a person is simply the continuation of spiritual life on that person's spiritual journey toward HaShem . So when one dies Chas Ve Shalom ,, the soul does not, but continues on its journey, ' living' and growing in holiness. We may not see this, but, this is what happens. Thus dying, is just another part of 'Chayei' - 'Living and Life.' At the end of Days, this will be clearer and better understood as life becomes eternal. When a person passes, it is spoken of that they got an Aliyah, which means that they 'Go Higher,' in their 'Spiritual Climb toward HaShem .' Thus, they continue living still on their spiritual journey toward HaShem , but just into the next step of 'Chayei '- 'Living.' For this reason, did HaShem write about the passing of Sarah with the words 'Chayei Sarah,' - 'The Life of Sarah,'. For Sarah was 'passing' on to her next stage of Spiritual Aliyah Climb.
It is also interesting how the Torah splits up her age as being One Hundred and Twenty and Seven years , which shows that she was as pure and righteous and beautiful at One Hundred and Twenty Seven years ,as she was at One Hundred years and she was as pure and holy and beautiful at a Hundred years as she was at Twenty years and she was as pure and beautiful and holy at Twenty years at she was at Seven years before a person even sins.The same is done for Avraham's passing at the end of this Parsha and shows the same about his holiness and purity and righteousness.
We note in this Parsha that Avraham is very clear about the specific burial site he wants, in the Cave of Machpelah near Mamre in Chevron . Why this particular site? The reason for this goes back to an incident in Avraham's life when he was preparing for the three angels and an animal ran away. In trying to get it, it ran into this particular cave of Machpelah and it was here that Avraham smelt the sweet pure fragrance of Gan Eiden and knew that this cave held a spiritual pathway to the Garden of Eden close to HaShem . So , for this reason, Avraham purchased this particular place , allowing his beloved wife to have her Aliyah close to HaShem . The amount he had to pay to Ephron the Hittite was so exorbitant that it was in that day and age ,a salary of forty years worth of work, but Avraham secured this for Sarah and for our people as ours, for all generations. 
Our Parsha talks of the 'Life of Sarah,' also because people continue to live through their children from generation to generation and it is in this Parsha that Avraham called his faithful servant Eliezer to return to his wife's family to find a wife for Yitzchak. 
Eliezer puts his own feelings aside of his own daughter whom he wanted , to marry Yitzchak , for faithful love of Avraham and so, goes to the home of Bethuel where at the well, after making his test of the girl who shows a deep kindness,in giving his camels water as well as him, showing that this true Chesed fits the family of Avraham, so does his test come to fruition, where Rivka , of the family of Bethuel, comes to the well and fulfills unknowingly, his test. 
And so, the next generation comes , as a worthy continuation for the true 'Chayei' - 'Life of,' Sarah and Avraham , as the new worthy holy couple to continue the family of the Jewish people . 
Every day, we face new light, new paths and new choices. It is only if, in all we do and choose, we make sure that we always look upward and travel toward HaShem, that we will truly 'Chayei '- 'Live.' A life without HaShem , is a life of no worth and as such not a life at all. To meander through life in the physical, is not life at all. Only by living according to HaShem's Commands and Wishes, can we be assured of true purposeful living. HaShem is the True Source of Life and to turn away from the Source of Life, to the physical or one's own wishes, is not a life at all, not connected to the True Source. That empty feeling so many feel can be solved by reconnecting to HaShem , The Source of Life.
Our Beloved Sarah and Avraham lived every moment for HaShem and thus, they are described at their passing as 'Chayei,' - 'The Life Of,' for such souls continue to live eternally in the form of true 'Life,' as well as them living every day to the full spiritually , traveling toward HaShem , keeping Shabbos and all HaShem's Laws that watch over us always .
So every day, every moment that HaShem gives you, make sure to connect yourself always to HaShem , The True Source of Life , making every day that you breathe , a day of Aliyah and a step up toward Heaven - a step up toward HaShem .Let your path always be Torah and your destination , always HaShem , HaKadosh Baruch Hu , The Holy One Blessed Be He.
With love to HaShem, I wish HaShem with love, a special , beautiful and sweet Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all, a sweet , special and beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love.