Overview
of the Weekly Reading: VaYera
To
be read on 20 Cheshvan 5764 (Nov. 15)
VaYera is the 4th Reading out of 12 in Genesis
and 4th overall, and 5th out of 54 in
overall length.
Torah: Gen.18:1-22:24;
Haftorah: Kings II 4:1-37
(because of v.22, similar to the angels' promise
to Avraham)
Pirkei Avot:
not till after Passover
Avraham interrupted a conversation with G-d to run and offer three
people walking by a rest stop and food. They were angels from G-d,
who told him that Sarah would have a son next year, and that G-d
was about to wipe out Sodom. Avraham prayed for the people there.
The messengers continued to Sodom, and were invited home by Lot.
They 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 five
cities were destroyed. Lot and his two daughters moved into a cave.
Thinking they were sole survivors in the world, the daughters got
their father drunk and had his sons.
Avraham visited Gerar, announcing that Sarah was his sister. The
king Avimelech took her, but G-d told him in a dream that she was
already married and that he must return her to her husband. Sarah
gave birth to Yitzchak, whom Avraham circumcised when he was eight
days old. Avraham sent Hagar and Yishmael away, as Sarah did not
want Yitzchak to share his inheritance. G-d promised Hagar that
Yishmael would also become a great nation. Avraham and Avimelech
made an oath regarding the well which Avraham had dug, and a peace
treaty. G-d 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 proved his faith. Avraham offered a ram
instead. G-d blessed him that he would have many descendants.
FROM
THE MASTERS OF KABBALA (K:04-64/VaYera
)
From the
holy Zohar, teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai
(Z:03-64/Lech
Lecha )
In
the 600th year of the 6th millennium [1840 CE] the supernal gates of wisdom will
be opened [the spreading of Zohar, Chasidut and the inner dimension of Torah],
and also the wellsprings of wisdom below [the Industrial Revolution and technological
advances like radio, Boolean Algebra (which led to the possibility of computers),
the locomotive, telephone etc.]. This will prepare the world for the 7th millennium
like a person prepares himself on Friday for Shabbat, as the sun begins to wane.
So it will be here [all the world will hurry up its preparations, physically and
spiritually, for greeting the 7th millennium]. There is a hint about this in the
verse "In the six hundredth year of Noah's life ...all the fountains of the great
deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened" (Gen. 7:11).
For
the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section on our KabbalaOnline
site.
* * * * *
From
the holy Ari, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria of Safed
(A:04-64//vaYera
)
In
this covenant, G-d promises Abraham the land of Israel in exchange for his children
going into exile. It is called "the covenant between the parts" since it was "endorsed"
by Abraham and G-d (represented by a pillar of fire) passing in between the severed
halves of several animals. The idea expressed was: "just as these halves are not
complete without each other, so are the two of us not complete without the pact
that binds us together."
For the full article, click to the "Weekly
Torah" section on our KabbalaOnline
site.
* * * * *
From
the Shelah, Shney Luchot HaBrit by Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz
(S:04-64/VaYera
)
I
have also explained that one must not conceive of G-d as having "changed
His mind", having abandoned a previous plan, seeing that, "He is not
human that He should have regrets" (Num. 23:9).
For the full
article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section on our KabbalaOnline
site.
FROM THE CHASSIDIC REBBES
(V:04-64/VaYera)
G-d
rained upon Sodom and Gomora brimstone and fire." (19:24)
At
the present time Sodom remains in its ruined state. However, when Moshiach comes
and evil will be completely removed from the earth, Sodom will return to its original
state of blessing and beauty, as it says, (Ezek. 16) "I will return the captivity
of Sodom."
Sefer
HaParshiot (from L'Chaim #241)
G-d, Himself, will provide
the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." (22:8)
Rashi explains
that Isaac also knew that he was going to be sacrificed. Nonetheless, "they
went both of them together," with equal resolve and with one heart. Isaac's
willingness to be sacrificed did not detract from Abraham's trial. On the contrary,
it made it that much more difficult for Abraham to consider sacrificing such a
righteous son.
Chidushei HaRim (from L'Chaim #241)
A
MYSTICAL CHASSIDIC DISCOURSE
from
the Chabad Master series, produced by Rabbi
Yosef Marcus for
www.ascentofsafed.com
and www.kabbalaonline.org
An
essay from Rabbi Shaul Yosef Leiter, director of Ascent 
(for a free weekly email subscription,
click here) (W:04-64/VaYera
)
This
week's parasha begins with Abraham welcoming guests, who are, in fact, messenger
angels. The Talmud writes that taking in guests is "greater than receiving
the Divine Presence" (Shabbat 127a), and we see that Abraham interrupted
a revelation from G-d in order to invite passers-by to his home. The Baal Shem
Tov writes that the Hebrew word for "guest" - "oray'ach"
(spelled alef -vav-reish-chet) can be broken into two parts: alef -vav-reish,
spelling the Hebrew word for "light" - "or" and the letter
chet. Kabbalistically speaking, the letter chet, which is the eighth
in the alef-bet, relates with the attribute of bina, the eighth
sefira from the bottom. Bina indicates expansion, illumination,
the source of all influences and salvation - the source of all blessing. When
we welcome guests in our home, we do them a kindness; but even greater, this mitzvah
opens up the spiritual source of blessings for our home.
"[G-d] revealed
himself to him (Abraham) in (b)'Ailonay Momray". (Gen. 18:1)
The initials
of these four consecutive Hebrew words correspond to the four kingdoms who exiled
the Jewish people: alef - Edom (Rome); yud - Yavan
(Greece); bet - Bavel (Babylonia); mem - Madai (Medea).
G-d was revealing the future exiles of the Jewish people to our forefather, Abraham,
and giving him an opportunity to pray on behalf of his descendents. (from Migaleh
Amukot and Toldot Noach).
Divrei Elimelech asks, "How
could it be that in the midst of this prophecy, Abraham asks G-d to wait while
he invites guests into his home? How could Abraham interrupt G-d on the grounds
of being hospitable? Surely, one would not interrupt a meeting with a very important
person in order to speak to "simple folk"; how much more so when speaking
to G-d Himself! An analogy can answer this question: A son wants his father to
come visit. Of course, a father is much happier to see his son when the son is
joyous than when his son is distressed and unhappy. Therefore, the son will choose
a time for the visit when he is an appropriate mood. This way the son redoubles
his father's joy in visiting his son. About what was Abraham so distressed that
he wanted to postpone his conversation with G-d?
Every Jew is connected
to Abraham, and his deeds affect his descendents forever. G-d's revelation of
the difficult future exiles of the Jews was very upsetting to Abraham. Abraham
was the embodiment of the attribute of kindness, chesed. He wanted kindness to
be drawn into those years of exile in order to "sweeten the severity",
empowering the Jews to persevere. When the guests arrived in the midst of the
revelation, Abraham deduced that they were connected to the issue, and the key
to helping his descendents in their exiles. Therefore, Abraham excused himself
from his conversation with G-d. By taking care of his guests, and asking them
to bless G-d for providing their needs, he brought chesed into the times of exile.
His disposition soon changed to one of great enthusiasm upon tending to his guests.
Abraham was relieved and happy to know that his descendents would experience chesed
even under the burdens of exile. Through the joy of attaining his goal, Abraham
knew he would be better prepared to finish his discussion. G-d certainly would
prefer to see his child in a happy frame of mind than the opposite. This is as
it says (Psalm 101) "Serve G-d with joy; come before him with joy";
be happy, and then approach G-d.
May we merit to serve G-d and connect
to Him - and may we do so amidst happiness, thereby increasing His joy in us.
May we experience the chesed of the end of the exiles with the redemption, NOW!
Shabbat Shalom, Shaul Leiter
(for
a free weekly email subscription, click
here)
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