Parashat Chayei Sarah is paradoxical from its first words: “And the life of Sarah was…”—yet the opening lines recount her passing (Bereishit 23:1). Our Sages note this tension not to shock, but to reveal a deeper truth: a righteous woman’s impact becomes fully visible in how her presence continues even after she is physically gone. For Sephardic women, whose traditions emphasize continuity, dignity, chessed, and spiritual beauty, this parashah becomes a masterclass in the ele