Parshas Vayeira: Ma'aseh Avos Siman L'Banim
Chaya Mushka and Nechama Dina Krimmer
The famed Sephardic scholar Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, better known as the Rambam, taught that "ma'aseh avos siman l'banim," the actions of the forefathers are a sign to their children. This week's parsha, parshas Vayeira, focuses on the actions and deeds of Avraham and his prophetic wife, Sara. These stories provide a template for Jewish life and consciousness throughout time.
In the final aliyah of last week's parsha, parshas Lech Lecha, Avraham is commanded to circumcise himself in his old age. All mitzvos initiate change in both the spiritual and physical worlds, whether or not we are sensitive enough to perceive them. Bris milah, circumcision, is unique in that we can observe with our own eyes how this mitzva changes physicality.
This is similar to the lighting of the Shabbos candles. The physical light of the candles mirrors the spiritual light that comes from the mitzva itself. Avraham's wife, Sara, was the first woman to light Shabbos candles and the Midrash tells us that, miraculously, Sara's candles would remain lit from one Shabbos to the next.
Parshas Vayeira opens on the third day after Avraham's bris. Hashem appears to Avraham to comfort him in the time of his distress, performing the mitzva of bikur cholim, visiting the sick. Our Sages teach that there are many ways to perform the mitzva of bikur cholim: approaching the sick person in a positive mood in order to lift his (or her) spirits, aiding in his physical comfort, offering prayers and reciting psalms for his speedy recovery, and providing him or his family with financial assistance, if needed. So great is the mitzva of bikur cholim that it is one of the mitzvos a person "eats of its fruits" in both this world and the world to come.
Despite his weakened state, when Avraham sees three Arab Bedouins approaching his tent, Avraham takes leave of Hashem and runs to greet them. The Talmud states that we learn from Avraham that it is greater to receive guests than to receive the Divine Presence! Such is the greatness of the mitzva of chachnasas orchim.
Avraham prepares an elegant table on his guest's behalf and is quick to provide them with his best food, drink, and provisions. Although Avraham was a wealthy man who could have charged his servants to serve the three men, it was Avraham's pleasure to cater to them himself.
These three Bedouins, the Torah teaches, were actually angels in disguise. As they depart from Avraham's tent, one of the angels tells Sara that in a year's time, she will be blessed with a child. In Jewish mysticism, it is taught that three months prior to a child's conception, the soul of the child draws near to its mother. This process began with the departure of the angels. And, indeed, a year later, Sara gave birth to her son, the righteous Yitzchok, who was circumcised by Avraham at 8 days old.
Pirkei Avos, the Ethics of our Fathers, states that Avraham was tested ten times. Avraham's final and most difficult test was the Akeidah, the binding of Yitzchok. Hashem commands Avraham to bring his son up for a sacrifice, a horrendous practice that was common in that time and place. Avraham is shocked and crestfallen but with complete and total faith in Hashem, Avraham prepares to follow Hashem's command with mesiras nefesh, the self nullification required to sacrifice anything and everything for the sake of Hashem, even giving up one's own life.
Ma'aseh avos siman l'banim. The deeds of the forefathers are a sign to their children. Circumcision. Visiting the Sick. Welcoming Guests. Self-Sacrifice in the Service of Hashem. In this week's parsha, we see both the kindness and strength required of, and gifted to, every Jew in all generations.
This Shabbos falls on the 20th day of the Hebrew month of Cheshvan, the birthday of the 5th Rebbe of Chabad, known as the Rebbe Rashab. When the Rebbe Rashab was a boy of four or five, he ran to his grandfather, the Tzemach Tzedek, with tears in his eyes. When his grandfather asked why he was crying, the Rebbe Rashab explained that he had learned in school that Hashem had appeared to Avraham Avinu and the boy was sad and confused that Hashem had not appeared to him!
Inside every Jew is a soul that cries out to witness the revelation of Hashem. With the faith and sincerity that only children can possess, may we cry out together to merit seeing this revelation through the coming of Moshiach, speedily, in our days.
