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Parashah
VAYERA
Genesis
18:1-22:24
2 Kings
4:1-37
2
Peter 2:4-11
Hebrews
13:1-3
This portion
starts by the Lord appearing to Abraham at his tent at the Oaks of Mamre.
“Now the Lord appeared to him by the Oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting
at the tent door in the heat of the day” (Gen. 18:1).
Before I
continue with what G-d has given me this week. I want to quote from Dr. J.
E. Feinberg's book on Genesis in which he writes, "G-d appeared, announces
a son! Abraham fed Him bread. Sarah laughed over Yitzchak, just as G-d
said, until G-d asked for Yitzchak's head! "
The Parasha
continues with Abraham bargaining for Sodom and Gomorra; the destruction
follows of these cities. Then we are told of how Lot and family are
rescued by the Angels; the seduction of Lot by his two daughters of whom
centuries later comes King David by way of Ruth; King Avimelech and his
covenant of peace with Abraham at Beersheva; then we read the story of the
binding of Isaac in which Abraham is tested by G-d and how much faith and
trust he has in the true G-d. And finally we end with the story of the
birth of Rebecca daughter of Nachor the brother of Abraham.
We are told
by the sages that from the first verse in the beginning of this Parasha we
must visit the sick as G-d did, (Gemara in Sotah 14 a.) We read that
Abraham was resting in the heat of the day and the Lord appeared to him.
Leviticus
19:33-34 tells us that we must be hospitable to strangers. Further in
Romans 12:13 and in 1 Peter 4:9 we are commanded to be kind without
grudging.
G-d has
given many examples for us to follow as how to treat people. G-d's
character is love. He extends His mercy to all.
Therefore as
Abraham, and all of us, received G-d's gift of love and hospitality, let
us all extend hospitality to one another.
SHAVUA TOV
Rabbi Z.
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