Parashat Vayeira

Parasha Thoughts

Yosef Shemtov

By Rabbi Yosef Shemtov

The Midrash states that in this week’s parasha Avraham Avinu became a cabinet member of the Almighty. That’s why when Hashem wanted to destroy Sedom and Amorah he said to the angels that he needed to first divulge this secret to Avraham. How did Avraham reach this level?

Avraham merited to be a part of G-d’s “cabinet” because he went out of his way to bring guests to his house and to provide them with the finest foods. There is an important question to be asked: Why was it that Avraham received this merit only in this week’s parasha? Avraham had invited guests his entire life. Why was this time any different?

The answer is that Avraham just had a Brit Mila at the age of 99. One would think that since he just had a painful surgery he would be entitled to get a few days off to rest inside his tent. Instead, he sat by the opening of his tent and waited to find guests. Avraham Avinu proved that there is no time off from doing acts of kindness. Our responsibility to do kind deeds doesn’t depend on our mood or how we feel.

The world was created with kindness and that is why Avraham became a cabinet member of Hashem. We should also learn that if we find the opportunity to do acts of kindness, we should grab it and not let it pass by.

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