Shalom Mishpacha,
To name just a few: As Avraham was recuperating from his own brit milah (circumcision), he was sitting outside his tent and sees three people walking by and offers them a rest stop and food. They in fact were messenger angels from G-d, who told him that Sarah would have a son next year, and that God was about to wipe out the evil city of Sodom (and the surrounding cities).
Avraham prayed for the people of Sodom and tries to entreat Hashem to spare the people. The messengers continued to Sodom, and were invited home by Lot. The people came to attack them, as their city was against hospitality and any form of kindness.
The messengers struck them blind, and told Lot to flee with his family, and not to look back. They ran, but his wife looked back and became a pillar of salt. The cities were destroyed.
Later, Sarah gave birth to Yitzchak (Isaac), whom Avraham circumcised when he was eight days old. We also have the telling of the Akeidah, wherein God tested Avraham and told him to bring his son Yitzchak as an offering.
At the last moment, a voice from heaven stopped him, telling him that he had proven his faith in Hashem.
Avraham offered a ram instead. G-d blessed him again that he would have many descendants.
Avraham prayed for the people of Sodom and tries to entreat Hashem to spare the people. The messengers continued to Sodom, and were invited home by Lot. The people came to attack them, as their city was against hospitality and any form of kindness.
The messengers struck them blind, and told Lot to flee with his family, and not to look back. They ran, but his wife looked back and became a pillar of salt. The cities were destroyed.
Later, Sarah gave birth to Yitzchak (Isaac), whom Avraham circumcised when he was eight days old. We also have the telling of the Akeidah, wherein God tested Avraham and told him to bring his son Yitzchak as an offering.
At the last moment, a voice from heaven stopped him, telling him that he had proven his faith in Hashem.
Avraham offered a ram instead. G-d blessed him again that he would have many descendants.
This week we once again get to learn more about Avraham Avinu (our Father) and the traits he embodied. In so doing, we also learn about ourselves, as his descendants, and more about what it means to live a life of Torah and as a Jew.
In addition to being the embodiment of emunah (faith) and bitachon (trust) in Hashem, Avraham was the model of "chesed" (loving kindness) as we see demonstrated in his "hachnasat orchim" (hospitality to guests). Even while recovering from his brit milah and despite the intense heat, Avraham still extended tremendous hospitality to the three visitors.
What's more, Rabbi Mordechai Katz points out, Avraham ensured that his guests would feel like they were not imposing, promising them a mere "morsel of bread", yet giving them an elaborate meal. (Our sages teach that the tzadikkim (the righteous) say little, but do much).
In addition to being the embodiment of emunah (faith) and bitachon (trust) in Hashem, Avraham was the model of "chesed" (loving kindness) as we see demonstrated in his "hachnasat orchim" (hospitality to guests). Even while recovering from his brit milah and despite the intense heat, Avraham still extended tremendous hospitality to the three visitors.
What's more, Rabbi Mordechai Katz points out, Avraham ensured that his guests would feel like they were not imposing, promising them a mere "morsel of bread", yet giving them an elaborate meal. (Our sages teach that the tzadikkim (the righteous) say little, but do much).
Just to add another layer of depth: the Torah states: "G-d appeared unto him [Abraham] in the fields of Mamre, as he sat at the door of the tent in the heat of the day." The Talmud teaches us that Avraham was sitting at the door of his tent so that he would look for wayfarers to invite into his home for rest and refreshment.
As Rabbi Abraham Twerski notes, Avraham was so much the personification of chesed and was so drawn to acts of kindness that he actively sought opportunities to perform them.
The midrash states that Hashem ensured that the day would be hot in order to help with Avraham’s healing and to deter wayfarers from passing by, so as to give Avaraham a rest. But, we learn, this saddened Avraham. Although he was experiencing physical pain, he was much more pained by not being able to reach out to and care for others. What a model he always has been and remains for us today.
As Rabbi Abraham Twerski notes, Avraham was so much the personification of chesed and was so drawn to acts of kindness that he actively sought opportunities to perform them.
The midrash states that Hashem ensured that the day would be hot in order to help with Avraham’s healing and to deter wayfarers from passing by, so as to give Avaraham a rest. But, we learn, this saddened Avraham. Although he was experiencing physical pain, he was much more pained by not being able to reach out to and care for others. What a model he always has been and remains for us today.
Avraham lived and breathed the trait of chessed. But he lived and breathed so many other beautiful traits as well. One of these is humility. As Rabbi Zelig Pliskin says, to an arrogant person, everyone is considered beneath him/her.
But a humble person considers everyone to be important. He/she honors and respects everyone and considers giving to any person as a personal favor to him. Avraham was such a person. Although the three visitors appeared to be mere nomads, Avraham ran to greet them and bowed down before them.
But a humble person considers everyone to be important. He/she honors and respects everyone and considers giving to any person as a personal favor to him. Avraham was such a person. Although the three visitors appeared to be mere nomads, Avraham ran to greet them and bowed down before them.
Avraham (and our Torah) teach us that it is indeed an honor to do kindnesses for others. It is we who gain something when we give to others.
And one last point on this special Jewish patriarch (though one could go on for a while): it is interesting to notice that Sodom stood for everything that Avraham did not stand for. Evil, a lack of respect and love for others, immorality, a lack of justice: these only begin to paint the gruesome picture that was this city.
And yet, when Hashem was about to destroy them, who attempts to come to their aid? Avraham. He tried very hard, in fact. His chesed knew no bounds... even for those who certainly would not have reciprocated the love. He prayed to save them, though they did not stand for what he stood, to say the least. Our world today could use a bit of Avraham’s ways. Indeed, this love for others, is the Jewish way.
And yet, when Hashem was about to destroy them, who attempts to come to their aid? Avraham. He tried very hard, in fact. His chesed knew no bounds... even for those who certainly would not have reciprocated the love. He prayed to save them, though they did not stand for what he stood, to say the least. Our world today could use a bit of Avraham’s ways. Indeed, this love for others, is the Jewish way.
The Baal Shem Tov (Rabbi Yisrael ben Eliezer, the founder of Chassidism, 17th-18th C, Poland) teaches that the way to achieve the love of G-d is to love other people. I once saw a beautiful quote (but do not know the source): "That we live is a gift from G-d, how we live is our gift to G-d."
May Hashem strengthen each of us to bring a little Avraham into our world.
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