After the describing passing of Avraham, Parshas Chayei Sarah ends with a cryptic description of the nation Yishmael, "Al pnei kol echav nafal - over all his brothers he dwelt" (Bereishis 25:18.) Rashi tells us the term "nafal - dwelt" is interchangeable with "schachein - to dwell." However, the Medrash Rabba (Bereishis 62:5) understands the use of "nafal" here to be literal, i.e. meaning "to fall", as an indication that after the death of Avraham the quality of Yishmael's life declined.
The Ba'al Haturim[1] notes that the verse describing the falling of Yishmael is juxtaposed to the opening verse of Parshas Toldos (25:19), "And these are the offspring of Isaac", to teach that when Yishmael will fall in the end of days then the Moshiach, the son of Dovid and descendant of Yitzchack, will sprout. The Ba'al Haturim wrote this commentary approximately 700 years ago. It not only brought comfort to the Jews of Toledo, Spain where his illustrious father found refuge after having to flee Germany, but uplifts us and provides encouragement today as well. The Ba'al Haturim bases his prediction on the Yalkut Shimoni (Bereishis 79).
There will be an end of days and the redemption will come! The prophet Isaiah (60:22) proclaims "b'eita achishena - in its time I will hasten it". The Talmud (Sanhedrin 98a) notes the apparent contradiction in saying that the redemption will come "in its time" and simultaneously saying "I will hasten it". The resolution of this contradiction is taught in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi who explained zachu achishena - if the Jewish people are virtuous and meritorious then He will hasten the redemption, if not it will come in its preordained time.
The Talmud (Sanhedrin 98b) further provides the formula for achishena: they asked Rabbi Elazar how to mitigate and best prepare for the end of days? He responded that one should study Torah and increase the performance of good deeds. The former is clearly delineated in Bava Basrah 8a and Sanhedrin 99b. It is the latter that we wish to focus on.
We are living in most difficult and challenging times. The new enemy is none other than teenagers who have been taught since kindergarten that to spill Jewish blood is noble and praiseworthy. We feel so helpless. Thus, we not only have to increase our security, but to really believe that our positive acts of kindness effect the Higher Realm.
To begin with, we are taught daily in recitation of the second paragraph of Shema (Devarim 11:13) that just as when man plants seeds in the ground, it yields its return and produce, similarly, when man plants mitzvos and ma'asim tovim they yield a Divine return and bounty.
In his commentary on the verse from the Shira, "You led with your kindness, this nation you redeemed" (Shemos 15:13) the Chofetz Chaim cites the Tana D'bei Eliyahu (23) that teaches that while according to the literal understanding the "kindness" refers to Hashem's kindness in taking us out of Egypt, the Rabbis understand the verse to refer to the many kindnesses members of the fledgling nation did for one another in Egypt, making them worthy of redemption. The Chofetz Chaim further teaches in his Chomas Hadas (chapter 14) that when a divine decree of judgment looms over the Jewish Nation, they must offset this decree with an abundance of chessed.
In Parshas Chayei Sara we have a strange phenomenon. The Torah most often is concise and precise in stating its laws. Most often without the oral law, one cannot decipher and observe the written law. Yet in regards to the finding of a mate for Yitzchack the Torah devotes sixty seven verses. Not only is this the longest chapter in the book of Bereishis, but it is one of the longest chapters in the entire Torah. What emerges and jumps out at the reader is the emphasis placed upon chessed as the criteria to marry Yitzchack, as well as Rivkah's excessive performance of chessed. Could she not ask Eliezer for a cup, rather than literally pouring the water into his mouth? Could she not ask Eliezer or one of his drivers to assist in the drinking of the ten camels? This excessive chessed proves her worthiness to join the house of Avraham. In the beginning of Vayeira we find Avraham's hospitality being extreme. They were both emulating none other than Hashem Himself whose chessed is constant and is beyond measure and human comprehension.
We must take the message to heart. Just as Shmuel Hanavi admonishes King Shaul, "if you are insignificant in your own personal assessment, you are the leader of Israel" we must internalize that with so much assimilation and intermarriage each Torah observant family and individual is that much more important and significant and charged with bringing the geulah. Your chessed counts. While compared to some others we might feel truly humble, many of us have knowledge of Judaism that is way beyond a beginner who is searching for an introduction to Jewish life, values, and teachings.
Partners in Torah is an excellent way to spend a meaningful hour once a week talking on the phone with an individual who could be hundreds of miles away; the closeness that develops and the benefits are significant for both study partners. I must believe there is a Tomchei Shabbos or Meals on Wheels in your community that delivers meals to the elderly and shut-ins. If there is not one, then start one. If you drive, find those few hours to deliver not only needed food but a smile and companionship. Take your children or grandchildren once a month to visit a senior citizen's residence and let them draw pictures for them and interact with them, as this initiation can be so significant for their healthy development and let alone the seniors.
Rav Chaim Volozhiner (Nefesh HaChaim Gate 1 Chapter 3) teaches that Hashem created man and appointed him to rule over the multitudes of powers and numberless worlds, to govern them via all the minute details of his actions, speech and thoughts, whether for good or heaven-forefend the opposite. Moreover he understands the Talmudic teaching (Berachos 64a) "call them your builders rather than your sons", for they arrange the lofty worlds as a builder arranges a structure and invests it with great strength. In chapter 7 he understands (Tehillim 121:5) "Hashem tzilcha - Hashem is your protective shade" as "He is your shadow" - just as a shadow's movement mirrors the movement of the actual person or object, similarly Hashem moves the worlds based on the movements and intentions and man's actions below.
In his drasha before Selichos Rav Chaim Volozhiner interpreted the verse (Devarim 32:9) "Yaakov chevel nachalasecha" literally, i.e. Jacob is the measure of His inheritance. Following Rashi's interpretation of "chevel" as "rope" he ingeniously interpreted the verse to mean Jacob is the rope of His inheritance. There is, as it were, a rope descending from Heaven to the Earth. When man moves the rope in this world it reverberates on high.
Finally, in response to Moshe's request as to what answer he should give the nation when they ask who commissioned him, Hashem says "I shall be as I shall be" (Shemos 3:14). The Ramban quotes the Medrash Agadah that Hashem was teaching the following lesson: as the Jewish nation acts towards Him, that is the way He reciprocates in kind. If the people open their hearts and hands and act charitably, so will Hashem return the favor. Parshas Chayei Sara teaches that our response to the excess terror in the world is excess chessed.
[1] The commentary on the Chumash written by Rabbi Yaakov the son of the Rosh, who also authored the monumental original Code of Jewish Law - the Arba Turim