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B"H

Friday, Mar-Cheshvan 17, 5780 / November 15, 2019

 

In last week's Parsha, Lech L'Cha, we find that when G-d told Abraham that his wife Sarah will give birth to a son,  "Abraham fell upon his face and laughed. He said in his heart, 'Shall a child be born unto him who is a hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is 90 years old, bear a child?" G-d told Abraham to name the child Yitzchak.  "And I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his seed after him."

 

In this week's Parsha, Vayeira, we read that when one of the three angels, who came to Abraham disguised as men, told Abraham, that next year at this time Sarah will have a son, “Sarah laughed to herself, saying, 'After I have become this old, shall I have a son?'" G-d was not happy that she laughed. He asked Abraham, "Why did Sarah laughIs there anything too hard for G-d?"

 

What was the difference between Abraham's laughter and Sarah's?  Rashi explains that Abraham's laughter was an expression of happiness and joy for this great miracle. The fact that G-d tells Abraham to name his son "Yitzchak," which means "laughter," is proof that his laughter was good. Sarah's laughter had, within it, an expression of doubt. She felt that at her age, she could no longer bear a child.

 

Q. Why was Abraham assured that he will have a son, yet, Sarah had her doubts?

 

A. The difference was that Abraham heard this from G-d. Thus, he was certain that this will happen.  Sarah, on the other hand, heard it merely from one of the three angels who appeared like ordinary people. She understood the remark to be a courteous blessing by a guest and laughed.

 

A businessman, who only a few years earlier emigrated to America, received a telegram at his office from his son, Yankelle, attending an out-of-town college.   Not being very comfortable with reading English, he handed the telegram to his secretary to read it to him.   The secretary, who at the moment was not in her best mood, read the telegram in an unpleasant and demanding tone: "Shoes torn. Very cold here. No decent coat. Not enough to eat. Send money!"

 

When the secretary finished reading the telegram in her unpleasant and demanding voice, the father roared, "Who does he think he is talking to? How dare he address his father so disrespectfully? He will not get one penny from me. I will teach him manners!"

 

That night at the dinner table he handed the telegram to his wife, "Read this," he exclaimed. “Could you believe that our own son is so rude?"

 

Her heart trembling, fearing the worst, the mother began reading in a soft motherly voice; "Shoes torn," she read with a soft sob. "Very cold here. No decent coat.” When she came to the words "Not enough to eat. Send money," she could actually feel her child starving and she broke down and wept.

 

"Now, this is different," said the father, as he reached for his check book, while wiping away a tear.  "Now he is asking like a gentlman.”

 

SHABBAT  SHALOM

 

Montreal candle lighting time: 4:06 / Shabbat ends: 5:11