Abraham’s Sister Sara

The incident in the Torah where Avraham asks Sara to say that she was his sister, is very puzzling. It looks like he is asking her to tell an outright lie.

Rashi justifies Avraham’s behavior by describing the lowly people of Egypt, and how they never saw such a beautiful white woman. It was a kind of Pikuach Nefesh that necessitated this subterfuge. Had he not done this, he would have been certainly killed.

The Ramban takes a different approach completely. He wrote that Avraham Avinu demonstrated a serious lack of faith. He should never have left Israel in the first place!

The Ramban felt that this act was so grievous, that it was the primary reason why his descendants had to go into exile.

The famine was one of tests placed before Avraham. He should not have placed his wife in a situation where one of the three cardinal sins would be violated.

The Alshich pointed out that there was great reward for the Jewish people in the merit of Sara’s virtue and Yosef’s virtue upon being faced with temptation in Egypt.

Pharoah himself rewarded Sara by giving her the land of Goshen, where the Jewish people later settled when they went down to Egypt.

The concept of מעשה אבות סימן לבנים, the incidents of the patriarchs, are a sign for their children, is also brought by the Ramban. We are to study and analyze what are our ancestors dealt with, and how they overcame obstacles, so that it helps us make the right decisions. And there are times when the decisions we make, come with scrutiny and doubt. With Hashem’s help, we should always do the right thing, and not be placed in such difficult situations.