Parashas Vayera 1

At the end of Parashas Lech Lecha, Avraham gets a bris mila at the age of 99! This was done before Yitzchak was born, because Hashem wanted Yitzchak to be holy from birth. This bris was to ensure that we, the jews will inherit Eretz Yisroel (Israel). After the bris, Avraham was changed in two ways: a physical change and a name change. He went from being called Avram, 'father of your native land Aram', to Avraham, 'father of many nations'.

In the beginning of Vayera, the parasha takes place by Avraham's tent. It was the third day of his bris - the most painful day. Hashem made it exceptionally hot outside in order for Avraham to worry about himself instead of worrying about his guests.

The blazing heat of gehenom (hell) didn't stop Avraham from wanting to fulfill the mitzva (commandment) of serving guests, though. As a matter of fact, he was in great agony - not because of the bris, but because he wasn't able to be hospitable. His whole life was about giving to others, and to Hashem. Not only was he a giver, but he did it with true love. People like Avraham don't feel like they need to take vacations. The last thing on Avraham's mind was, "I've given so much to others. Now it's time for someone to give back, especially when I'm in great need of it!".

Chazal (Our sages) say that a person who accustoms himself to giving acquires a trait of love. This is spoken about a lot in Shalom Bayis (harmony in the house) classes. Speakers stress how a husband and wife should always give to each other, and that will make their love grow for one another. Sounds crazy, doesn't it? You would think it's the opposite; if someone always receives things, that would make their love grow for the giver, because they are on the receiving end.

Chazal say, look at the Hebrew word for love, Ahava. The word Ahava has a root word, like most words. The root word is Hav, to give. The more a person gives, the more his love grows for the person he is giving to.

Pirkei Avos (Ethics of our Fathers) 1:15 says, "Emor Mi'at v'Asei Harbeh," (Say a little and Do a lot.) Avraham's actions were more numerous then his words. When the guests came to Avraham, he quickly told them, "I will get bread, and you will sustain your hearts." Then it says that Avraham quickly ran, getting some butter, milk, meat etc... What happened to just getting some bread? It could be that Avraham felt if he were to offer a whole meal, they might have refused, or felt weird saying ok. So he therefore offered something simple, and conjured up a feast.

Sometimes people say, "Oh, I have to visit Yaakov, he's in the hospital." Then, when it comes to be mivaker cholim (visit the sick), they say, "ah, you know what, Yaakov will be out in a day anyways, when he comes home I will pay him a visit", until that visit turns into a phone call made by Yaakov. There are times when, for all of their words, people don't take action at all. Avraham not only fulfilled his word, but in fact did much more.

A lesson we should take from this is that when one has guests, don't wait for them to ask for a drink. People are shy when it comes to asking for something, no matter how much they need it. Offer it right away! Maybe offer a cup of water, and serve some cookies along with it. It's no steak, but the mitzva definitely has the same value.


Have a wonderful Shabbos,
Nisso