Vayeira 5770/2009

Text for Parsha Vayeira

Choices and Changes

Parsha Vayeira (“And he appeared”) contains many important scenes and concepts. Consider some of the many sections in the portion:

1. The Promise, and subsequent birth, of Yitz’chak.
2. The destruction of S’dom (Sodom) and ‘Ammorah (Gomorrah).

Not only destruction, but rescue. This deliverance lead to Lot becoming the progenitor of both Mo’av and ‘Amon. In the days of the wilderness wanderings, when the Torah was written, these two Canaanite peoples were constant trouble for the Hebrews.

3. The conflict between Avraham’s two sons, Ishma’el and Yitz’chak.

The previous parsha talked about the birth of Ishma’el to Hagar, and the conflict between Sarah and Hagar. This parsha focuses on the birth of the Promised Son, Yitz’chak, and the issues between the two boys.

4. Divine protection from the P’lishtim.

In the midst of the parsha, a side trip is taken to G’rar. Once again, just as in B’raysheet 12, Avraham again tells the local chieftan that Sarah, “… is my sister.” You’d think he would have learned better the first time!

5. The challenge—and successful result—of the Akedah, the binding of Yitz’chak/Isaac.

A classic tale that is beloved to both Jews and Christians, this story tells of a time when Avraham’s faith in Hashem was put to the test.

An important detail that stands out as we read the parsha is that most of the action in the section comes as a result of Avraham’s hospitality towards Hashem and the angelic visitors that stopped to see him. Because of the significance of the angelic visitation at the beginning of the portion, I like to think of Parsha Vayeira as “Entertaining Angels Unawares”. This is a quotation from a popular translation of Hebrews 13:2…

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

This verse serves as a summary of both Avraham’s life, and this parsha. In Jewish thinking, hospitality is an important character trait to be developed, and the Patriarch is renowned for modeling this trait in fine fashion.

We can see Avraham serving his guests, even while still recovering from a painful circumcision he had performed on himself! He roused himself from his peaceful rest, and launched into a flurry of activity on behalf of the strangers. Afterwards, he demonstrates great concern and compassion for S’dom and ‘Amora, bartering with Hashem for the sake of any righteous people who might live there (especially righteous people named “Lot”).

Many times, we meet people who are sent our way by Hashem. And usually, we don’t even realize it! These “divine appointments” can serve a variety of purposes. It may be for us to help the stranger. Or, perhaps the stranger has something helpful to offer us in the way of a word of wisdom, assistance in accomplishing a task, or even some financial reward.

But most often, the real significance of the encounter lies in what we bcome as a result of the meeting. There is a popular saying, “The reward for a mitzvah is a mitzvah”. The underlying truth revealed in this saying is that the doing of a mitzvah (a commandment, or a good deed) alters our character. By doing one good thing, we become more likely to do another good thing. Thus, one good deed leads to another.

Because Avraham showed hospitality to strangers, Adonai took him aside and confided in him, as a friend speaks to a friend. This gave Avraham the opportunity to please the case for preserving the city of S’dom. “But”, you say, “S’dom was wicked and deserved to be destroyed!”

Yes, but who lived in S’dom? Lot, Avraham’s nephew.

Avraham serves as an example to us of the importance of hospitality, and also as a reminder that we never know what impact our actions will have. We may end up saving lives (Lot), or raising children who will have a huge impact on future generations (B’raysheet/Genesis 18:19).

Keep listening for instructions from Hashem—you never know when he might be calling you to set aside a personal comfort zone, and do something truly significant… like serve some strangers a warm meal.