From: JoshHoff@aol.com
Sent: Friday, November 14, 2008 4:02 AM
To: JoshHoff@aol.com
Cc: TorahWorld@gmail.com
Subject: Netvort:parshas Vayeira,6769
Friends
By Rabbi Joshua ( bonhomically known as The Hoffer) Hoffman
At the beginning of
parshas Vayera, the Torah tells us, " God appeared to him" (
Bereisjis,18:1).In the following verses, we are told that three
men approached Avraham's tent, and he offered them hospitality. There is
a. difference of opinion among the commentators whether the first verse is
connected to those that follow,as the Rashbam explains, or is an
independent statement,as the Ramban explains. Those who maintain that it is
connected explain that God appeared to Avraham through the medium of the
three men, who were actually angels of God, while those who view it as an
independent statement explain that this verse and merely tells us
that God appeared to Avraham, without telling us the content of that vision, or
the message that was delivered. There is no 'vayomer,'or' 'and he said,'following
the 'vayeira,'or 'he appeared,' here,as there has been until now in the
Torah.What,then, was the purpose of the visit, if there was no verbal message
delivered? Rashi says that Avraham was convalescing from his
bris milah, and God was performing the mitzvah of bikkue cholim, or visiting
the sick The verse is then connected to the previous parsha, which describes
Avraham's bris milah, and this explains why the verse does not mention
Avraham's name, and merely says that God appeared 'eilav,'or 'to him,' meaning
to Avraham, who was just mentioned at the end of parshas Lech Lecha..
Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, zt'l, in his posthumously published volume of
essays on Avraham entitled Abraham's Journey, further develops the opiion
that the first verse in the parsha is an independent statement and
also refers back to the previous parsha. He says that following the
bris milah described at the end of Lech Lecha, God was now a friend
of Avraham, and, as a friend, enjoyed his company, and simply wanted to
be near him at this time of his life, when he had just undergone major surgery
and experienced an important elevation in his status. This relationship of
friendship, says Rav Soloveitchik, only began at the end of parshas Lech Lecha,
after God made a bris, or covenant with Avraham,and,as a sign of this covenant,
Avraham was circumcised.. Rav Soloveitchik goes on to explain very beautifully
how a friend does not need to say anything when he pays a visit,and that merely
being there is in itself a powerful message of friendship that goes beyond
words.. I would like to expand on Rav Soloveithcik's explanation, and show
why it was specifically in relation to the events described here that
God displayed His friendship with Avraham.
Why does a friend want to be in the presence of someone with whom he shares his
friendship? Through knowing the person, he comes to know what his essence is,
and learns to appreciate it. Being in the presence of this person whose life
represents a certain kind of ideal, or focus in life, gives his friend a
certain amount of pleasure. The essence of Avraham was the trait of
chesed, or kindness. Rashi in the beginning of the parsha cites the
midrash which says that the day was so hot that no travelers were on the
road, and Avraham was sitting at the opening of his tent hoping that
someone would come by whom he could help.Rav Dessler, in his Michtav Me Eliahu,
explains that Avraham did chesed because he loved to, and not just because he
felt an obligation to fill somebody's needs. Thus, his very essence
consisted in doing chesed, and that was the trait of Avraham which God
understood and for which He wanted to be in Avraham's proximity, as a devoted
friend,when that trait came out in its fullest degree.
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