Parashat Vayera
Cheshvan 18, 5780 / November 15-16, 2019
Torah: Genesis 18:1-22:24
Haftarah: Kings II 4:1-37
Dedications and calendar follow below. For
complete listings, see our web site at:
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend,
and please cite the source.
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PUTTING GOD SECOND
"And the Lord appeared to (Abraham) at
the terebinths (trees used to make turpentine) of Mamre while he was sitting at
the entrance of the tent in the heat of the day. He lifted his eyes and
saw there were three men standing above him; he ran from the entrance of the
tent to greet them, and bowed toward the ground. And he said, 'My Lord, if
I find favor in Your eyes, please do not pass away from Your
servant.'" Genesis 18:1-3.
At first reading, one would think that God
appeared to Abraham in the form of the three men. Therefore, he bowed and
addressed them as "My Lord". However, Rabbinic tradition teaches that
these are two separate events. God was visiting Abraham following
Abraham's circumcision, and then the three men appeared. Abraham (in his pain!)
literally ran from God to greet the men. He then asked God to
wait while he attended to the needs of the men!
This might seem extraordinarily disrespectful
to God. Not so, according to the Rabbis. "Rabbi Judah said in
the name of Rav: 'Hospitality to guests is greater than greeting the Divine
Presence.'" How can this be? For one thing, if God is the
Omnipresent, one can never leave God's Presence. Second, if God is the Eternal,
then "waiting" is not in God's vocabulary - it's simply not a
problem. Perhaps most important, God does not have physical needs, but human
beings do; and they must be attended to. In taking leave of God in order
to extend hospitality to three strangers who appeared out of the desert,
Abraham was actually honoring God - by caring for those who are created
"in the image of God".
This implies that if one must choose between
fulfilling a “mitzvah bein adam lamakom” (a mitzvah between a person and
God) or a “mitzvah bein adam l’chavero” (between one person and another
person), we should attend to the mitzvah involving another person first. (See,
for example, the Mishnah at Peah 1:1: “These are the things for which a person
reaps the fruits in this world, and gets a reward in the world to come:
honoring one's father and mother, acts of lovingkindness (gemilut chasadim),
and bringing peace between people.”) When we treat others to our
hospitality (or feed them or clothe them or house them or provide them with
medical treatment), we do indeed find favor in God's eyes.
There remains perhaps the greatest mitzvah of
all, one that does not require choosing between God and human beings. We do it
after we are dead – by registering as organ donors while we are alive. Indeed,
virtually all rabbis agree that organ donation at death is a positive mitzvah -
an obligation of pikuach nefesh - saving a life. This idea
represents everything that Judaism stands for.
This weekend is National Donor Sabbath, a
project of the US Department of Health and Human Services. More
information is available at the web site:
In 2018, over 36,000 organ donations were
performed in the US. This is impressive, until one realizes that there are
over 113,000 Americans on the waiting lists for various organs. Every day, 80 transplants
are performed in the US, while 20 people die waiting for organs they need to
survive. You can alleviate the pain and suffering of others, literally
give them life, merely by completing an organ donation card available from your
motor vehicle department or at the web site above.
Does it work? Of course! Most of our parts are
“recyclable”. And don’t forget, there are ways to save lives while we are still
alive – through blood, platelet and bone marrow donations, and as living organ donors. Go ahead – perform
an act of chesed or pikuach nefesh – God won’t be offended!
L’chaim!
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Richard A. Flom
הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם ?אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם
Who is wise? The one who learns from
every person.
Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1
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Candle lighting: 4:31 pm
Friday: SIMCHA Shabbat Evening Service – 6:30 pm. Shabbat
Dinner follows. Join us to celebrate November anniversaries, birthdays, and
more! The pareve/dairy dinner is complimentary to all,
but reservations to the office are a must!
Saturday: Torah study/breakfast – 8:45 am. Shabbat
Morning Service – 9:30 am. Kiddush lunch follows.
Sunday: TBH/CBM Sisterhood meeting – 11:00 am. Religious
School – 12:00 noon – 2:30 pm. NOTE TIME CHANGE! This
is to accommodate the sofer who will be teaching our students and any
interested congregants about how scrolls for Torah, tefillin, and mezuzot are
made and written.
Tuesday: Lunch and Learn – 12:00 noon.
Friday, 11/22: Shabbat ROCKS Evening Service – 6:30 pm. Reb
Jason and the Shul of Rock with an electrified and
electrifying service. Oneg Shabbat follows.
Saturday, 11/23: Torah study/breakfast – 8:45 am. Shabbat
Morning Service – 9:30 am. Kiddush lunch follows.
Next time you come to TBH/CBM,
please bring some non-perishable canned and packaged foods and personal items
(no glass) for SOVA.
This d’var torah is offered for
a refuah shleimah for Leah bat Sarah Imanu, Sarah bat Devorah, Susan
Arbetman, Ken Bitticks, Elsbet Brosky, Mark Brownstein, Jerry Daniels, Maya
Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr. Samuel Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben Gittel), Bernard
Garvin, Leah Granat, Gabor Klein, Philip Kronzek, Tonya Kronzek (Zlata Malkah
bat Sarah Imanu), Ina Labowitz, Stuart Lytton, David Marks, Gail Neiman, Sandra
Raab, David Russak, Josef Sands, Shirley Sands, Debra Schugar Strauss (Devorah
bat Chaya Feiga), Helen Schugar (Chaya Feiga bat Kreina), and William Sragow.
Please let me know if there is
anyone you would like to add to this list or if there is anyone who may be
removed from this list.
