Chaye Sarah: Virtues, Vision and a Mentor with a Tweed Coat --A Tribute to Paul Bolenbaugh

This week’s parsha recalls the death of Sarah, but is strangely called Chaye Sarah, literally translated as “The Life of Sarah.”    While it certainly discusses her death and burial, it is Rashi, among others, who tell us that the unusual choice of titles for this parsha is purposeful, as death helps us understand life. Sarah, our matriarch, lived a life of energy, vigor and moral character.

David Brooks, author  and columnist, echoes this age-old concept.  He writes, “..there were two sets of virtues, the résumé virtues and the eulogy virtues…The résumé virtues are the skills you bring to the marketplace. The eulogy virtues are the ones that are talked about at your funeral — whether you were kind, brave, honest or faithful. Were you capable of deep love.”

While I do not know of Sarah’s resume virtues, the choice of title of the parsha, Chaye Sarah, reminds us of her eulogy virtues–the ones that are values-laden and everlasting.

Two weeks ago, the world lost a master teacher to thousands.  Paul Bolenbaugh taught history and social studies for 58 years in the Baltimore area.  He was a “one-of-a kind, a man whose own pursuit of knowledge and love of history, politics and literature inspired several generations of students.  Paul leaves a lasting legacy of independent and critical thinking, the search for justice, love of democracy and respect for all of humanity.”

Paul, whom I am proud to have called a mentor and friend, was a man of endless eulogy virtues. Of the many things he taught me, he shared two quotes that reflected his passion and his soulful approach to life. 

בְּאֵ֣ין חָ֭זוֹן יִפָּ֣רַֽע עָ֑ם וְשֹׁמֵ֖ר תּוֹרָ֣ה אַשְׁרֵֽהו  When there is no vision, the people perish. 

(משלי/Proverbs 29:18). 

This quote is about the content of prophecy—the hope and message for a world of holiness and goodness.  Paul was a person who believed in living life with both wonder, adventure and vision.  With the lenses of joy, kindness, equity in love, Paul was a passionate teacher who pushed his students to be thoughtful and idealists.  Carrying strong convictions, wide smiles and energizing conversations – vision was the air that Paul truly breathed. 

“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think” (Margaret Mead, cultural anthropologist)

  Paul was never one to have students memorize, or cram for final projects or assessments.  Whether it was challenging the value of Columbus Day or delving into deserted island ethical conundrums, his job was to push students and be a trainer of the contemplative muscle.  He wanted to teach children that knowledge is best used when it is put to the task of increased analysis and improvement of our world, our country, our communities, and our souls.

The world and thousands of people are better for having known Paul Bolenbaugh.  Paul was a man with a brilliant, analytic mind which was only exceeded by the depth of his endlessly empathic, humble and loving soul.

Paul said it best when he wrote:

“I am relatively unimportant… I affect some people- But most of humanity will live and die never knowing my life and death- nor mine theirs. I believe I am a dreamer,...I know something about people–not enough, however. And this is a frightening loss. I try honestly to understand, to follow, and to know the whys about people.

I end up knowing fantastically little. But I continue the effort anyway. If I want things to be different, what can I do? The dreamer is never satisfied.”

Paul Bolenbaugh’s light lives in all who were impacted by him.  His life, his חַיִים ,his eulogy virtues will live on.  

Paul, the teacher, the dreamer, thankfully taught us all fantastically much.

May the Life of Paul, be for a blessing.  יהי זכרו ברוך