Rashi teaches that Yiskah was actually Sarah Imeinu, the Matriarch. She was called Yiskah, which is a name derived from the word, sachoh, meaning to gaze, to see. Sarah was able to gaze into the future, because she was endowed with Divine Inspiration. Also, everyone gazed at her extraordinary beauty. Rashi’s second explanation, which focuses on the physical beauty of Sarah Imeinu, seems out of place. The Matriarch was a spiritual person, her life’s purpose was to serve the Almighty in every possible way. Why should her extraordinary beauty play a role in identifying her by name? If Sarah would not have been physically attractive, would it have made her less righteous? Why does Rashi emphasize her outstanding physical appearance?
Horav Moshe Feinstein, zl, offers us a powerful insight into the lives of our great leaders. Everything they do is for kavod Shomayim, the glory of Heaven. If they are endowed with unusual physical traits, such as beauty, charm, refinement, it is to be used for the purpose of enhancing their service to Hashem. Sarah Imeinu was endowed with physical attractiveness that turned the heads of an Avimelech and Pharaoh. She could have had anything from these men, so obsessed were they by her allure and stunning countenance. Yet, her devotion to Hashem prevailed, and she overcame the challenge posed by her unusual beauty, thereby catalyzing an incredible Kiddush Shem Shomayim, sanctification of Hashem’s Name. Thus, her beauty is to be included in her many positive traits. She used her beauty for spiritual growth, not defilement.
