B"H

Wednesday, Cheshvan 15, 5777 / November 16, 2016

This week’s Parsha, Vayeira, begins with the two important mitzvot of Hachnasat Orchim - being hospitable to guests and the mitzvah of Bikur Cholim - visiting the sick.

The Parsha begins, "And G-d appeared to Abraham, while he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. And he [Abraham] lifted up his eyes and looked and there were three men standing before him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them." 

Abraham invites them into his house and gives them water to wash their feet. He rushes to tell Sarah to prepare baked goods. He then "runs" himself to fetch three oxen so he can serve them a sumptuous meal. Abraham had many servants and he was 99 years old at the time. It was also the third day after his circumcision, yet, he himself attended to his guests.

The reason G-d appeared to Abraham was to perform the mitzvah of visiting the sick. In order that Abraham would not be bothered with guests, G-d made the day unbearably hot, to prevent people from traveling. But Abraham sat by the door of his tent, looking for wayfarers so he can perform the mitzvah of Hachnasat Orchim. G-d sent three angels in human form. When Abraham saw them, he asked G-d not to leave while he "ran" to invite the three guests into his home. The Torah then details how Abraham ran to make sure that his guests had everything they needed. From this we see, say our sages, "That performing the mitzvah of hospitality is greater than being in the Divine Presence!"

This story emphasizes the importance of the mitzvah of helping others. Abraham left G-d’s presence in order to help the three guests.

Before they became well known, the brothers Reb Zusia and Reb Elimelech, would hide their identity as tzadikim and great rabbis. Therefore, people mistook them for poor, uneducated people.

Whenever the brothers came to the city of Ludmir, the wealthy people didn't pay attention to them. So they stayed at the home of a poor man who took pity on them.

Many years later, Reb Zusia and Reb Elimelech became very famous. They traveled again to Ludmir; only this time, they came in a coach pulled by two horses. The richest man in town told the coachman, "Please, bring the honored rabbis to my home!" But when the carriage pulled up to his home, he was shocked to find that only the coachman had come to stay and not the rabbis!

When the rich man complained, Reb Zusia and Reb Elimelech responded, "We have come to Ludmir many times before. The only one to show us hospitality was the poor man who gave us food and lodging. We haven't changed since those days except that then we went by foot and now we travel in a coach. Knowing that you never invited us before, we figured that the reason you wanted us to stay in your home was because of the coachman and the horses. That's why we sent them to you, while we stayed in our regular place with the poor man!"

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY