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ויאמרו אליו איה שרה אשתך ויאמר הנה באהל

Roberto Szerer
In Vayeira, 5778

They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” and he said, “Behold! She is in the tent.” (18:9)

Three angels, disguised as Arabs, were welcomed by Avraham Avinu to his tent. After “partaking” of a luscious and satiating meal, the angels prepared for their real mission: to inform Avraham and Sarah Imeinu that they would soon be the progenitors of the next Patriarch. The angels inquired about Sarah’s whereabouts, to which Avraham answered, “She is in the tent.” Rashi explains that the angels were quite aware that Sarah was in the tent. The intent of their query was merely to endear Sarah to Avraham by underscoring the fact that she was a tznuah, a modest/chaste woman. Avraham’s vocalization…

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נברכו בו כל גויי הארץ

Roberto Szerer
In Vayeira, 5778

And all the nations of the earth shall bless themselves by him. (18:18)

All the nations shall bless themselves through Avraham Avinu, and, by extension, his descendants – Klal Yisrael. Avraham set the standard for the world population to emulate – so should we. Previously, in Parashas Lech Lecha (12.2), Hashem told Avraham, V’heyei brachah; “And you shall be a blessing.” You will have the power to bless whomever you wish (Rashi). Ramban interprets this to mean that Avraham will be the standard by which people will bless themselves. Indeed, this is a powerful and frightening mandate for us – as his descendants. We must live up to our responsibility to set the…

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והאלקים נסה את אברהם

Roberto Szerer
In Vayeira, 5778

And G-d tested Avraham. (22:1)

Was it only Avraham Avinu’s nisayon, test? One would think that Yitzchak Avinu, the korban, sacrifice-elect, was playing a leading role in this nisayon. Why is our Patriarch Avraham singled out – as opposed to Yitzchak? Horav Moshe Neriyah, zl, offers an insightful explanation which underscores the significance of Torah chinuch, especially that which is taught at home from parent to child. Avraham taught his son, Yitzchak, to fear Hashem. He taught him well – to the point that our second Patriarch was prepared to become an olah, offering, to Hashem. Va’yeilchu shneihem yachdav; “And the two of them (father…

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וישכם אברהם בבקר ויחבש את חמרו

Roberto Szerer
In Vayeira, 5778

So Avraham woke up early in the morning, and he saddled his donkey. (22:3)

The above pasuk teaches us about Avraham Avinu’s alacrity to serve Hashem. The Almighty instructed him regarding a mission. Avraham did not tarry. He went about performing the mission at the earliest possible moment. The Tur Orach Chaim 1:1 begins with this idea: “That you should ‘wake’ the morning – rather than (have) the morning wake you.” Likewise, in Shulchan Aruch 1:1, the Bais Yosef writes his well-known opening words: “Arise like a lion, to get up in the morning to serve his Creator; that you should wake up the morning.” While this concept is probably the last thing that…

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וישב אברהם אל נעריו... וישב אברהם בבאר שבע

Roberto Szerer
In Vayeira, 5778

Avraham returned to his young men… and Avraham stayed at Be’er Sheva. (22:19)

Avraham Avinu returned home – with his two aides – but where was Yitzchak Avinu? Four people left for the mountain; three returned home. Yitzchak must have taken a different route. The Midrash Rabbah explains that Yitzchak took a detour to study Torah in the yeshivah of Shem (son of Noach). Targum Yonasan adds that Yitzchak studied there for three years, until he met Rivkah Imeinu. Was something wrong with Avraham’s yeshivah? It seems to have sufficed for thirty-seven years. Why did he change? Certainly Shem was not a better rebbe than Avraham. Horav Moshe Neriyah, zl, quotes the Rambam,…

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ברך עלינו... את השנה הזאת

Roberto Szerer
In Vayeira, 5778

Bareich aleinu… es ha’shanah ha’zos. Bless upon us… this year.

We begin the prayer for sustenance with the acknowledgement that everything – every penny – comes from Hashem. Indeed, one who does not acknowledge Hashem’s complete control over his livelihood takes the chance, when things do not go his way, of engaging in illicit behaviors, even acts of perjury and theft. One who trusts in Hashem knows that he will earn whatever Hashem wants him to earn: no more; no less. Now, when we begin our day with the realization that all of our blessings are Heaven-sent, and that what we will earn is specifically the product of Hashem’s decree,…

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ויאמר מהרי שלש סאים קמח סלת לושי ועשי עוגות

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Vayeira, 5777

And he said, “Hurry! Three se’ahs of meal, fine flour! (18:6)

Kemach is meal; solas is fine flour. They are not the same. The Talmud Bava Metziah 87a wonders how we reconcile these contrasting “flours” in the same cakes. They explain that Avraham Avinu asked for fine flour. Sarah Imeinu responded with inferior flour. Chazal conclude from here, that we may derive that a woman is stingier than a man toward guests. Anyone who studies Torah understands that this dialogue between Avraham and Sarah contains more than meets the eye. Especially noteworthy is the fact that Hashem had earlier instructed Avraham to listen to Sarah, because she was greater than him…

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ויאמר ד' אל אברהם למה זה צחקה שרה... היפלא מד' דבר

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Vayeira, 5777

Then Hashem said to Avraham, “Why is it that Sarah laughed?”… Is there anything beyond Hashem?” (18:13,14)

Sarah Imeinu wondered how a woman of her age could possibly conceive and bear a child. Hashem’s response is one that should be on our lips all of the time. Indeed, it should be the Jew’s mantra: Ha’yipalei mei Hashem davar? “Is there anything beyond Hashem?” Nothing is beyond Hashem’s capabilities. The Midrash cites a meaningful mashal, parable. A man carrying two links of a metal chain that had snapped came to the blacksmith shop. “Can you possibly repair my chain?” The blacksmith looked at the man somewhat incredulously and asked, “If I can fashion a new chain from raw…

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וה' אמר המכסה אני מאברהם אשר אני עושה ואברהם היו יהיה לגוי גדול ועצום

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Vayeira, 5777

Shall I conceal from Avraham what I am about to do, and Avraham will surely become a great and mighty nation? (17:18)

Hashem’s apparent deliberation concerning whether or not to share His plans about the destruction of Sodom with Avraham Avinu begs elucidation. The very statement implies that He had a legitimate reason to conceal this information from Avraham. Nonetheless, Hashem decided to share the information with Avraham (regardless). The Patriarch was destined to be the progenitor of a great nation. Thus, he should be made aware of the impending destruction. Obviously, something is happening of which the reader is not aware. Rashi explains that this is a rhetorical question, which should be read in astonishment. Nonetheless, it still does not clarify…

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וירא את המקום מרחוק

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Vayeira, 5777

And (he) perceived the place from afar. (22:4)

In Perek Aleph of Mesillas Yesharim, the Ramchal writes: “From this we learn that the primary purpose of man’s existence in this world is solely to do mitzvos, to serve Hashem, and to overcome tribulations.” I have always felt that when we add the verse, Zachreinu l’Chaim, during the Aseres Y’mei Teshuvah, the word l’maancha, for Your sake, is its most defining point. We pray for life. For what reason should we live? Hashem owes us nothing. It is almost insolent to ask for life unless one has a lofty purpose in living. L’maancha is that lofty purpose. We live…

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