B"H
Tuesday, Mar-Cheshvan 14, 5779 / October 23, 2018
This week’s Parsha, Vayeira, begins, "And the L-rd appeared to him while he sat at the door of the tent in the heat of the day." “To him,” refers to Abraham. This took place on the third day after his circumcision at age 99, about which we read at the end of last week’s Parsha, Lech Lecha.
Q.Why did G-d appear to Abraham? What was the purpose of this appearance? Always when G-d appeared to Abraham, G-d spoke to him, but here there is no communication.
A.G-d's appearance to Abraham was for the sole purpose of performing the mitzvah of "Bikur Cholim” - visiting the sick," as Abraham was recuperating from his circumcision.
The mitzvah of visiting the sick is called "Bikur Cholim" and is a very important mitzvah. Our sages say that visiting the sick, not only helps the patient psychologically, it also helps him get well physically.
The Midrash tells the following: A student of the Talmudic sage Rabbi Akiva became ill. No one had visited him and his illness became worse. Rabbi Akiva heard this and visited the student. Rabbi Akiva cleaned the floor and did whatever the student needed. As a result of Rabbi Akiva's efforts, the student survived. Rabbi Akiva then told his students, "Whoever doesn't visit the sick is as if they have spilled their blood!"
The Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) states:"The main reasons for visiting the sick are; to see if they need anything and to pray for their health. If one visits a sick person and does not pray for him or her, one did not fulfill their duty.
Q.In the Mi Shebeirach prayer for the sick, in which we pray for their healing, we ask G-d, “Heal him/her amongst all the other sick of Israel.” Why do we include all the other sick of Israel?
A. Our sages say, “One's prayer is more readily accepted when it invokes the merits of many."
Q.Why, when calling up to the Torah we mention the person’s name and their father’s name. But when reciting the Mi Shebeirach prayer, for the ill, we recite their name and their mother’s name?
A. The people of Israel are divided into three categories; Kohen, Levi, Yisrael. These three divisions are determined by the father’s lineage. If the father is a kohen, the son is a kohen; if the father is a Levi, the son is a Levi and when the father is a Yisrael, the son is a Yisrael. Thus, when we call to the Torah a Kohen, Levi & Yisrael, we mention the father’s name.
But when we pray for a healing and strength, we use the mother’s name, because King David did so. In Psalm 86, King David prays to G-d, “Turn to me and be gracious to me; grant Your strength to Your servant, and deliver the son of your maidservant.”
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY