Thursday, Mar-Cheshvan 13, 5778 / November 2, 2017

The beginning of this week’s Parsha, Vayeira, is a continuation of last week’s Parsha, Lech Lecha, which ends with Abraham performing the mitzvah of circumcision at the age of ninety nine.

This Parsha begins, “And G-d appeared to him [Abraham]… as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day.” Our sages explain that the purpose of G-d’s visit to Abraham was to perform the mitzvah of visiting the sick, as Abraham was recuperating from his circumcision.

Q.  The Torah doesn’t tell us why G-d came to Abraham. How do we know that the purpose of G-d’s appearance to Abraham was because Abraham was ill?

A. In all other places when G-d appeared to Abraham it was for the purpose of telling him something. But here G-d appears to Abraham without telling him anything. From this the sages derive that the sole purpose of G-d’s appearance to Abraham was for the mitzvah of visiting the sick.

Q.   In this Parsha we read about the birth of Yitzchak (Isaac).  Abraham was one hundred years and Sarah was ninety when Yitzchak was born.  Is there any significance to the name Yitzchak?

A.  “Yitzchak”comes from the word "tzchok" which means laughter.  Yitzchak's birth brought special joy, happiness and laughter to his parents who were 90 and 100 years old.  

Also, the numerical value of the four Hebrew letters which spell the name Yitzchak (Yud, Tzadik, Chet, Kuf) have a special significance to the story of the birth of Yitzchak:

"Yud" is numerically 10 - This alludes to the 10 tests which G-d tested Abraham and in whose merit he received G-d's everlasting covenant and blessings. 

"Tzadik" is numerically 90 - Sarah's age at the time of Yitzchak's birth. 

"Chet" is number 8, hinting to the fact that Yitzchak was the first one to be circumcised at 8 days. 

"Kuf" is 100.  This number represents Abraham's age at the time of Yitzchak's birth.

Q. In the Parsha we read that Yitzchak was circumcised on the eighth day. Why is the Brit (circumcision) performed at eight days and not sooner?

A.  One reason is that the baby is not physically strong enough before the 8th day. According to the Zohar, the reason is that before the Brit (circumcision) the child needs the spiritual strength which comes with Shabbat.  We wait seven full days, so that he will have a Shabbat before the Brit. 

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY