׳׳ואברהם זקן בא בימים…׳׳ בראשית כד:א
“Avraham was old, well on in days…” Bereishis 24:1

The Kli Yakar points out that the pasuk in last week’s Parsha already stated ׳׳ואברהם ושרה זקנים באים בימים׳׳ , that Avraham and Sarah were old and had seen many days. Thirty- seven years had elapsed between then and now; what is the importance of this fact that led the Torah to repeat itself here? The Kli Yakar explains based off of the  pasukim in Koheles of ׳׳טובים השנים מן האחד׳׳ -“Two are better than one” and ׳׳והחוט המשלש לא במהרה ינתק׳׳ – “The thrice-wound string will not quickly unravel.” A good wife gives life to her husband, as the further pasuk in Koheles states ׳׳ראה חיים עם האשה׳׳.  A good son as well, infuses his father with life, for anyone who manages to raise a – בן צדיק righteous son, after he passes on is considered as if he had never died, all the more so while the father remains alive he has an “extra life”. Therefore, from the birth of Yitzchok until the death of Sarah, the thread of Avraham’s existence was three-ply, for his life was enhanced by both Sarah and Yitzchok. In all of those days he stood with strength and did not age, as old men traditionally have the tendency to do. Those were days of total Simcha and Bracha. However, before the birth of Yitzchok, Avraham had Simcha only from Sarah and after her death Avraham found solace solely in Yitzchok.

These two stages of Avraham’s life were equal and that’s why the pasuk uses the same  language with regard to the period of time before Yitzchok’s birth and after Sarah’s death, even though there was much time in between. The Kli Yakar continues to explain that this is why Avraham immediately turned to find a wife for Yitzchok, for Avraham believed that Yitzchok’s wife may fill the void left after Sarah’s passing and that Avraham would be returned to the level of Simcha he had been experiencing while Sarah was alive. This indeed occurred for, as we know, the “Sun” of Sarah had not yet set before the “Sun” of Rivka began to shine.

One cannot accomplish alone what he may achieve together with the help of others. A family with the common goal of growth in Torah, all striving together to get close to Hashem and perfect their respective character traits can bring them all closer to achieving their ultimate purpose, as one member balances the other to complete the picture. This is the ultimate teamwork. This is what Avraham Avinu accomplished together with his family. They showed us how to do it; we too can attain this level if we follow in their ways.

Moshe Rothenberg / MMHK