Parashat Chayei Sarah • Genesis 23:1–25:18
“Blessed is Adonai… who has not withheld kindness and truth.” — Genesis 24:27
This week’s Torah portion, Chayei Sarah, holds a special place in my heart — in part because it was my Bat Mitzvah parasha, and in part because the powerful kindness at the center of its story deeply resonates.
After traveling far to find a bride for Isaac, Abraham’s servant stops at a well with ten thirsty camels. He prays for a sign — not a miracle, but an act of kindness. And then Rebecca appears. She not only offers him water, but draws enough for all his camels, too. This generous, wholehearted gesture reveals her character before she even speaks.
Rebecca’s kindness is active, intuitive, and expansive. She notices a need and responds without being asked. Her openness becomes the turning point in the entire narrative — the moment when hope becomes possibility and prayers are answered through human compassion.
The Light of Kindness
(A Prayer for Parashat Chayei Sarah)
© Joanne Fink
May you find joy on your journey,
and be accompanied by those you love.
May you feel confident in your choices
and willing to learn from your mistakes.
May you grow in compassion and resilience
and use your innate gifts to make a difference for others.
May the generations who came before you
inspire you to be a light in the world
and may you, in turn, always be a source of inspiration.
And, when you are struggling and feeling less than whole,
may you be inspired to reach out in love and friendship
to those who are wrestling with challenges of their own.
A single loving act can change the world!
May the light of your soul shine out in the world as kindness,
and may you always know how deeply you are loved.
Kindness often unfolds in small, everyday moments — drawing water from a well, noticing who is thirsty, offering help before it is requested. Rebecca teaches us that the simplest acts of kindness can be sacred gateways. They can open pathways we never expected, for ourselves and for others.
In the three weeks since my daughter’s diagnosis of stage four, triple-negative breast cancer, I have been blessed and bolstered by community, and I am so appreciative of the kindnesses shown by friends and family. Thank you to everyone who has reached out and asked what they can do to help. I would be grateful if you would add Sam — Shira Natanya bat Yocheved — to your Mi Shebeirach list, and join me in praying that a new treatment will soon be discovered that will be effective for this type of cancer.
For those who enjoy a glimpse of my creative process, the “Inspire Kindness” journaling page below inspired my ‘Kindness Candle’ art. If you would like to order this print click here.
Here are this week’s journaling questions:
Journaling Questions
- What unexpected act of kindness made a profound difference in your life?
- What acts of kindness can you this week?
- Where in your own journey are you being invited to notice another’s need?
- How does kindness help you stay connected — to yourself, to others, and to the Divine?
Closing Blessing
May your heart be strengthened by the kindness and generosity of others.
May you be a conduit of kindness, bringing comfort and compassion into the world.
And may the light within you shine gently and steadily,
illuminating the path for all who walk beside you.