Parashat Vayera
November 8, 2022
Naamah Imir, Second-Grade Hebrew and Limudei Kodesh Teacher
In QB VII, American author Leon Uris writes, “The only thing that is going to save mankind is if enough people live their lives for something or someone other than themselves.” Avraham must have felt similarly, because the hospitality he showed to complete strangers in this week’s parashah is unparalleled. While there are people out in the world (many of them in our kehilah!) who are generous and hospitable, there are very few who would go out of their way for people they don’t know, especially when they are recovering from surgery!
One last thought: In addition to giving selflessly, Avraham welcomed strangers into his home without prejudice. He trusted them in his most personal space. The key word here being trust. While giving might come easily to many of us, trusting people, especially those we don’t know, can be quite challenging. Sometimes, the most rewarding aspects of relationships come when we are more open and vulnerable, when we let people in. Every year, the Leffell School community is so lucky to welcome new families, new faculty, and new guests to our amazing school. As both a parent and a teacher, it is truly a privilege to be a part of this kehilah kedosha. The reason Leffell attracts many new faces is because this community is respectful, supportive, generous, and hospitable. So, let us make a commitment. To giving more, trusting more, and respecting more. Vayera teaches us that ultimately, the best way to honor and respect God is to honor and respect each other. Shabbat Shalom!
Vayera opens with these pesukim:
“The LORD appeared to him by the terebinths of Mamre; he was sitting at the entrance of the tent as the day grew hot. Looking up, he saw three men standing near him. As soon as he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them and, bowing to the ground, he said, ‘My lords, if it please you, do not go on past your servant.'” (Bereshit 18:1-3)[NJPS translation]
“The LORD appeared to him by the terebinths of Mamre; he was sitting at the entrance of the tent as the day grew hot. Looking up, he saw three men standing near him. As soon as he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them and, bowing to the ground, he said, ‘My lords, if it please you, do not go on past your servant.'” (Bereshit 18:1-3)[NJPS translation]
The story seems straightforward: God appears to Avraham, Avraham meets the strangers, Avraham serves the strangers, addressing them with the respectful title of Adonai, here carrying the meaning of “my lords.” It is startling for us to read that, as Adonai is the word we use instead of pronouncing God’s name, YHWH. So to whom, in fact, is Avraham speaking? Indeed, the narrative itself elides the distinction between God and the travelers later on (see, for example, verse 13). According to Rambam, Avraham is indeed talking to God, and not to the strangers, making this an extraordinary piece of information. This suggests that Avraham actually interrupted God! God was about to speak, but Avraham asked God to wait while he attended to his unexpected visitors.
I know what you’re thinking — the chutzpah! Yet, this daring interpretation became the basis for a principle in Judaism, found in Masechet Shabbat: “Greater is hospitality than receiving the Divine Presence.” Faced with a choice between listening to God and offering hospitality to strangers, Avraham chose hospitality. God accepted his request and waited while Avraham brought the visitors food and water, before engaging him in dialogue about the fate of Sodom.
I know what you’re thinking — the chutzpah! Yet, this daring interpretation became the basis for a principle in Judaism, found in Masechet Shabbat: “Greater is hospitality than receiving the Divine Presence.” Faced with a choice between listening to God and offering hospitality to strangers, Avraham chose hospitality. God accepted his request and waited while Avraham brought the visitors food and water, before engaging him in dialogue about the fate of Sodom.
Furthermore, the Torah gives us no indication that God is even upset that Avraham interrupted him to greet the strangers. Rather, he simply picks up with their conversation as though nothing happened. We learn two things from this: the importance of הַכְנָסַת אוֹרְחִים, the mitzvah of hospitality, and that God cares more about human-to-human interaction than human-to-Divine interaction. It is this principle that made Avraham believe that abruptly stopping his conversation with God was the right thing to do. Avraham knows that God prefers human beings treating each other with respect and dignity over anything else.
One last thought: In addition to giving selflessly, Avraham welcomed strangers into his home without prejudice. He trusted them in his most personal space. The key word here being trust. While giving might come easily to many of us, trusting people, especially those we don’t know, can be quite challenging. Sometimes, the most rewarding aspects of relationships come when we are more open and vulnerable, when we let people in. Every year, the Leffell School community is so lucky to welcome new families, new faculty, and new guests to our amazing school. As both a parent and a teacher, it is truly a privilege to be a part of this kehilah kedosha. The reason Leffell attracts many new faces is because this community is respectful, supportive, generous, and hospitable. So, let us make a commitment. To giving more, trusting more, and respecting more. Vayera teaches us that ultimately, the best way to honor and respect God is to honor and respect each other. Shabbat Shalom!