Parashas Vayera 2

As mentioned in my previous Dvar Torah, the beginning of the Parasha takes place by Avraham's tent. He was waiting by the opening of his tent, because he really wanted to have guests. The problem is, it was so hot, there were no travelers. So Hashem decided that He was going to visit Avraham first, and then send three angels to appear like humans. From here we learn already that there's a mitzva to visit the sick.

When Avraham would have people eat by him, he would tell them to "thank the Master of the Universe for this meal He gave you." If they were to reply. "No. Who is this God of yours, whom we do not see?" Then he would say "Ok, in that case you own me money for the meal, and then since you ate my steak, that would be $20, and the drinks are $20 per cup, and the bread-- you can't get bread out here in the desert, that will be $20." They would reply back, "You are right, who is this Master whom you ask us to thank? We will!"? By doing this, Avraham was able to accomplish his goal of spreading Hashem's name around the world. (Bereshis Rabba, 59:7)

Sefer Moreh Nevuchim (a book written by the Rambam) says that Avraham, who was blessed with great wealth, utilized his entire fortune for the purpose of glorifying Hashem's name in the world. Can you imagine taking your monthly paycheck and setting it aside for Hashem?



Anytime my daughter hears coins jingling, she automatically runs towards the noise and says, "Frida - want - give - tzidaka (charity)". She will literally take any coin she sees and deposit it into the tzidaka box if we don't stop her. We can't leave any coins laying around. She doesn't have a concept of how much money she is giving. She just gives. That is --somewhat-- like Avraham. He doesn't make calculations. He knows that if it's for Hashem, then it's worth every dime. He isn't worried that maybe his money will go to waste, because when one gives something for the sake of Hashem, Hashem will give it back.

I was learning a Gemara (Talmud) the other week (Beitza 16), and it says that a person's parnasa (monetary status) is decreed on Rosh Hashana (the Jewish New Year) except if someone spends money for Shabbos, Yom Yov, or Talmud (learning) Torah. Tosfos (commentary)mentions there that Hashem says, 'you should even borrow money on My name, and I, Hashem will pay the money back.' This is because the mitzvos of Shabbos, Yom Tov, and Talmid Torah are very chaviv (special) to Hashem.

The Rambam writes there's a chi'yuv (obligation) that if a father can not teach his son Torah, then he should hire someone to teach him. Just because the father doesn't know how to teach his son Torah, that doesn't make him patur (dismissed) from teaching him. He needs to pay from his own pocket to give his son the education.



Hashem gave us his precious vessel, the Torah. It's up to us to make the most of it. In Gemara Berachos it mentions how Torah should be learned day and night. Without Torah, there is no reason for this world to exist. Maybe that's a reason why there are time zones. On one side of the world people are getting up to start their day, while the other side is getting ready for bed. G-d forbid there should be even ONE second of nobody learning Torah.



A lesson we could take from Parashas Vayera is that one should do as much as they can to sanctify the name of Hashem. Avraham was a paragon of thanking Hashem constantly for everything he was given. He used what Hashem gave him to the full capacity, and shared it with others, asking nothing in return but a "Thank you" to Hashem. Another way to say 'Thank you' to Hashem is by learning his Torah. If you gave someone a gift, wouldn't you get nachas (pleasure) to see it being used?

Thanks for reading,

Nisso