This week’s Torah portion is Chayei Sarah, which begins with the untimely death of our Matriarch Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

Avrohom (Abraham) came to eulogize Sarah and to cry on her (23:2).

The Commentary of Rashi states: That when Sarah heard about the Akeida, (The biblical account of Abraham’s heavenly ordained test of nearly sacrificing their son Yitzchok [Isaac]) , her neshama (soul) departed her and she passed away.

Many have asked about this incident in the Torah; how could the illustrious mother of the Jewish people have met her end as a result of the commandment of G-d?

A prominent contemporary Rabbi’s insight into a tragic incident that occurred a number of years ago in Israel may shed some light on this disturbing question.

A teacher in one of the prestigious girl`s schools in Israel was killed by an Arab on her way to teach her students about Torah and yiddishkeit.

Many were troubled. How could such a thing have happened to this beloved and respected teacher? Do we not have a rule Shluchei Mitzvah Einom Nizokin?, One who engaged in a Mitzvah will not be harmed?

Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, son of the famous Steipler Gaon (Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel Kanievsky) answered: When I went to pay a shiva call to the family of this woman, I was asked that question. I replied that we actually find many that were engaged in doing a mitzvah and were harmed, a prime example is what happened to Sarah Imeinu (our mother) that upon hearing about the Akeida, which was a commandment to Avrohom Aveinu to sacrifice his son Yitzchok, she was niftar.

The Medrash (beginning of Medrash Eichah) states that one time the daughter of the Roman King died and the Jews in a certain town did not refrain from lighting [Shabbos] candles and the agents of the King suspected the Jews of rejoicing over the death of the princess. As a result many of the Jews in that town were put to death. These people were engaged in the mitzvah of the lighting of the Shabbos candles and they met a terrible fate.

Rav Kanievsky continued, but sometimes it happens, that a person`s time has come to leave this world, if the person is a tzaddik, a righteous individual, Hakadosh Boruch Hu arranges the events that he or she should be involved in a Mitzvah at the time of their demise and then it is considered that the person was Moser Nefesh (martyred) on behalf of the Mitzvah and the Rabbis teach that someone who passes away at the time of doing a Mitzvah it is counted as if he kept the entire Torah.

This is what happened by Sarah Imeinu who was a great Tzaddekes. Her time to return her neshama to her Creator had come and Hashem wanted to give her an extra zechus-merit, so he arranged her death as a result of a Mitzvah so that she would have the extra zechus to take with her to the Olom Ha`Emes - World of Truth.

Source: Sefer Derech Sichah, a compilation of Torah thoughts, advice and insights of Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky shlita of Jerusalem.