B"H

Thursday, Mar-Cheshvan 16, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / November 10, 2022

Each morning, after reciting the various morning blessings in which we thank G-d for everything He gave and gives us; our life; our eyesight; able to stand, to walk, food, clothing etc., we recite the following:

"These are the precepts whose fruits a person enjoys in this world but whose principle remains intact for him in the World-to-Come.  They are, honoring one's father and mother, performing acts of kindness, early attendance at the house of study morning and evening, hospitality to guests, visiting the sick, providing for a bride, escorting the dead, devotion in prayer, bringing peace between man and his fellow and between man and his wife - and the study of Torah is equivalent to them all."

According to our sages, the mitzvah of hospitality to guests, which is called, Hachnasat Orchim, is so great that a person is rewarded for this mitzvah in this world and in the World-to-Come.

We learn the greatness of two of these mitzvot, hospitality to guests and visiting the sick, from this week's Parsha, Vayeira.

The Parsha begins, "And the L-rd appeared to him [Abraham] while he sat at the door of the tent in the heat of the day.  And he lifted up his eyes and saw three men standing before him."  Abraham ran to meet them and begged them not to go on before coming into his tent. 

The Torah describes in great detail how Abraham himself, although he had many servants, attended to his guests; "Let now be fetched a little water to wash your feet and recline under the tree...  And I will fetch bread...  And Abraham hastened into the tent... He tells Sarah to bake bread, while he runs to prepare a cow for their meal."

All this took place on the third day after Abraham was circumcised at the age of 99.  G-d visited Abraham that day because Abraham was ill due to his circumcision.  G-d performed the mitzvah of visiting the sick. G-d also made it unbearably hot so that no one would travel and bother Abraham.  However, Abraham sat at the door of his tent looking for someone who needed help and hospitality, in order to perform this great mitzvah. When G-d saw Abraham's desire to perform this mitzvah, He sent three angels disguised as people to visit Abraham.

Although G-d was with Abraham, as soon as the three travelers appeared, Abraham takes leave of G-d and runs toward the three strangers to invite them into his tent. Based on this episode, the Talmud tells us that, "Offering hospitality to guests is greater than being in the Divine Presence."

Abraham's response also teaches the importance of personally fulfilling a mitzvah.  Performing mitzvot should be viewed as an honor and privilege. By performing a mitzvah, we fulfill G-d's will and thus connect and become united with G-d.  Our sages tell us that it is always better to perform the mitzvah ourselves than to delegate it to someone else on our behalf.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY