Vayera: Chapter 12

"And the men rose up from there"

Synopsis

Before any negative occurrence befalls an individual, the Creator always sends us a gift. This gift is an opportunity to perform a positive action so that we can protect ourselves from any judgments decreed against us. This principle is concealed in the Biblical story of Abraham. The three angels were sent to Abraham by the Creator. When Abraham invites these three angels into his home, it is an act of true kindness. Consider Abraham's situation, He was one hundred years old, it was the third day after his circumcision, which is the most painful day, and the weather was unbearably hot. Nevertheless, Abraham put aside his own self interest and welcomed the three strangers [angels] into his home where he bathed and fed them. This positive action saved the life of Abraham's nephew, Lot, when the cities of Sodom and Gomorra were destroyed.

Relevance

It is human nature to be governed by the primal instinct of self-survival. Yet, it is also uniquely human to put aside one's own needs in consideration of others, albeit, a much more difficult duty to perform. We are empowered with the strength to overcome our natural tendency to be self-absorbed in our own problems. We create the consciousness and awareness to recognize opportunities for sharing. In turn, our positive actions of sharing will give us the ability to overcome or circumvent difficult situations in life.

Abraham Isaac Punishment Sodom and Amorah (Gomorrah)

166. After Abraham was told about Isaac, it is written, "And the men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom" (Beresheet 18:16). Rabbi Elazar said, Come and behold. The Holy One, blessed be He, shows goodness to all beings, but especially to those who follow His path. And even when He decides to judge the world, He arranges for anyone who loves Him to perform a meritorious act before the world is punished.

166. כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְבַּשַּׂר אַבְרָהָם בְּיִצְחָק, מַה כְּתִיב וַיָּקוּמוּ מִשָּׁם הָאֲנָשִׁים וַיַּשְׁקִיפוּ עַל פְּנֵי סְדוֹם. רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אֲמַר, תָּא חֲזֵי, כַּמָּה אַנְהַג קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא טִיבוּ עִם כָּל בְּרִיָין, וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן, לְאִינוּן דְּאָזְלֵי בְּאוֹרְחוֹי, דַּאֲפִילּוּ בְּזִמְנָא דְּבָעֵי לְמֵידַן עָלְמָא, אִיהוּ גָּרֵים לְמַאן דְרָחֵים לֵיהּ, לְמִזְכֵּי בְּמִלָּה, עַד לָא יֵיתֵי הַהוּא דִּינָא לְעָלְמָא.

Angels Eyes Head Judgment Poor Wind

167. This corresponds to what we have learned. When the Holy One, blessed be He, loves a person, He sends him a present. And what is THAT PRESENT? It is a poor man for whom he can perform a meritorious act. So now that he is meritorious and deserving, the Holy One, blessed be He, draws a cord of grace from the right side upon him. He winds the cord around his head and marks him, so that when Judgment falls on the world, the Angel of Destruction will take notice of him AND NOT HURT HIM. Because he raises his eyes and notices that mark, he avoids him. This is why the Holy One, blessed be He, arranged beforehand to make him meritorious.

167. דְּתָנִינָן, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא רָחֵים לֵיהּ לְבַּר נָשׁ, מְשַׁדַּר לֵיהּ דּוֹרוֹנָא, וּמַאן אִיהוּ מִסְּכֵּנָא, בְּגִין דְּיִזְכֵּי בֵּיהּ. וְכֵיוָן דְּזָכֵי בֵיהּ, אִיהוּ אַמְשִׁיךְ עֲלֵיהּ, חַד חוּטָא דְּחֶסֶד, דְּאִתְמְשַׁךְ מִסְּטַר יָמִינָא, וּפָרִישׂ אֲרֵישֵׁיהּ, וּרְשִׁים לֵיהּ, בְּגִין דְּכַד יֵיתֵי דִינָא לְעָלְמָא, הַהוּא מְחַבְּלָא יִזְדְּהַר בֵּיהּ, וּזְקֵיף עֵינוֹי וְחָמָא לְהַהוּא רְשִׁימוּ וּכְדֵין אִסְתַּלַּק מִנֵּיהּ, וְאִזְדְּהַר בֵּיהּ. בְּגִינֵי כָּךְ, אַקְדִּים לֵיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בַּמֶּה דְּיִזְכֵּי.

Abraham Angels Destruction Judgment Lot Sodom and Amorah (Gomorrah)

168. Come and behold, when the Holy One, blessed be He, planned to execute Judgment on Sodom, He prepared a meritorious act for Abraham by sending him a present, WHICH REFERS TO THE THREE ANGELS. Because of them, he became deserving. Thereby, he saved Lot, the son of his brother, from destruction. This is why it is written, "and Elohim remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow," (Beresheet 19:29) and not, 'and Elohim remembered Lot.' As a result of Abraham's meritorious act, he was saved. And "remembered" MEANS THAT He remembered the previous meritorious act that He performed with the three angels.

168. וְתָּא חֲזֵי, כַּד בָּעֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְאַיְתָאָה דִּינָא עַל סְדוֹם, אַזְכֵּי קוֹדֶם לְאַבְרָהָם, וְשַׁדַּר לֵיהּ דּוֹרוֹנָא לְמִזְכֵּי עִמְּהוֹן, בְּגִין לְשֵׁזָבָא לְלוֹט בַּר אֲחוּהָ מִתַּמָּן, הה"ד וַיִּזְכֹּר אֱלֹקִים אֶת אַבְרָהָם וַיְשַׁלַּח אֶת לוֹט מִתּוֹךְ הַהֲפֵכָה. וְלָא כְתִיב וַיִּזְכֹּר אֱלֹקִים אֶת לוֹט, דְּהָא בִּזְכוּתֵיהּ דְּאַבְרָהָם אִשְׁתְּזֵב. וּמַאי וַיִּזְכֹּר, דְּדָכִיר לֵיהּ מַאי דְּאַזְכֵּי קוֹדֶם, עִם אִינוּן תְּלַת מַלְאָכִין.

Abraham Death Death and the Afterlife Deeds Judgment Lot Merit

169. In the same manner, when harsh Judgment hangs over the world, the Holy One, blessed be He, remembers the charitable deeds that men performed. Every time a person performs a meritorious action, it is noted above. THEREFORE, even when there is harsh judgment on the world, the Holy One, blessed be He, remembers the good that a person has done and has merited through other people. As it is written, "but charity (righteousness) delivers from death" (Mishlei 11:4). According to this, the Holy One, blessed be He, arranged in advance that opportunity for Abraham to perform a meritorious act, so that by his merit Lot would be saved.

169. כְּגַוְונָא דָא, בַּר נָשׁ דְּיִזְכֵּי בִּצְדָקָה עִם בְּנֵי נְשָׁא, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְדִינָא שָׁרְיָא בְּעָלְמָא, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אַדְכַּר לֵיהּ לְהַהִיא צְדָקָה דַּעֲבַד. בְּגִין דִּבְכָל שַׁעֲתָא דְּזָכֵי בַּר נָשׁ, הָכֵי אַכְתִּיב עֲלֵיהּ לְעֵילָא, וַאֲפִילּוּ בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְדִינָא שָׁרְיָא עֲלוֹי, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִדְכַּר לֵיהּ, לְהַהוּא טִיבוּ דַּעֲבַד, וְזָכָה עִם בְּנֵי נָשָׁא. כְּדָבָר אֲחֵר וּצְדָקָה תַּצִּיל מִמָּוֶת. בְּגִינֵי כָּךְ, אַקְדִּים לֵיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְאַבְרָהָם, בְּגִין דְּיִזְכֵּי, וִישֵׁזֵיב לְלוֹט.

Abraham Angels Fire Food Meals Merit Sodom and Amorah (Gomorrah)

170. Come and behold, "And the men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom." They rose from the meal that Abraham prepared for them, thereby performing a meritorious act. And even though they were angels, WHO DO NOT NEED A MEAL, he nevertheless attained merit because of them. And they purposely left no food over from the meal, so that Abraham would attain merit through the act, as it is written, "and they did eat," as by their fire the food was eaten and consumed.

170. וַיַּשְׁקִיפוּ עַל פְּנֵי סְדוֹם. תָּא חֲזֵי, וַיָּקוּמוּ מִשָּׁם הָאֲנָשִׁים. מֵהַהִיא סְעוּדָה דְּאַתְקֵין לוֹן אַבְרָהָם, וּזְכָה בְּהוֹ. אַף עַל גָּב דְּמַלְאָכִין הֲווֹ, זְכָה בְּהוֹ, וְכָל הַהוּא מֵיכְלָא, לָא אִשְׁתָּאַר מִנֵּיהּ כְּלוּם בְּגִינֵי דְּאַבְרָהָם, וּלְמִזְכֵּי בֵּיהּ, דְּהָא כְתִיב וַיֹּאכֵלוּ, בְּאֶשָׁא דִלְהוֹן אִתְאֲכֵיל.

Abraham Air Angels Chassadim Fire Food Gabriel (Angel) Michael (Angel) Refael (Angel) Shechinah Water

171. You might say, But there were three angels, one of fire, one of water, and one of air. SINCE GABRIEL IS MADE OF FIRE, MICHAEL IS MADE OF WATER, AND RAPHAEL OF AIR, ONLY GABRIEL COULD HAVE CONSUMED THE FOOD WITH HIS FIRE. MICHAEL AND RAPHAEL WERE NOT ABLE TO DO SO, AS THEY ARE NOT MADE OF FIRE. AND HE REPLIES, Each and every one of them includes the others in himself. SO EACH ONE OF THEM WAS MADE OF FIRE, WATER, AND AIR. This is why IT IS WRITTEN ABOUT ALL OF THEM, "and they did eat" - THE FIRE IN EACH OF THEM CONSUMED THE FOOD. Similarly, "and they saw Elohim, and did eat and drink" (Shemot 24:11), MEANING that they were indeed nourished from THE SPLENDOR OF the Shechinah, WHICH IS CONSIDERED AS EATING. Thus, in this PASSAGE AS WELL, "and they did eat" MEANS THAT they nourished themselves, THROUGH THEIR EATING, from the side to which Abraham was attached, NAMELY THE RIGHT SIDE, WHICH IS CHASSADIM. And this is why they left nothing of what Abraham offered them - SO THAT THEY COULD DRAW DOWN AS MUCH CHASSADIM AS POSSIBLE.

171. וְאִי תֵימָא, הָא תְּלַת מַלְאָכִין הֲווֹ, הַאי אֶשָׁא, וְהַאי מַיָא, וְהַאי רוּחָא. אֶלָא, כָּל חַד וְחַד כָּלִיל בְּחַבְרֵיהּ, וּבְגִינֵי כָּךְ, וַיֹּאכֵלוּ. כְּגַוְונָא דָא וַיֶּחֱזוּ אֶת הָאֱלֹקִים וַיֹּאכְלוּ וַיִּשְׁתּוּ. אֲכִילָה וַדָּאִית אֲכָלוּ, דְּאִתְזְנוּ מִן שְׁכִינְתָּא, אוֹף הָכָא וַיֹּאכֵלוּ. גָּרְמוּ לְאִתְזְנָא מֵהַהוּא סִטְרָא דְאַבְרָהָם אִתְדְּבַק בֵּיהּ, וּבְגִין כָּךְ, לָא אַשְׁאָרוּ מִמַּה דִּיְהֵיב לוֹן אַבְרָהָם כְּלוּם.

Abraham Angels Blessing Chassadim Cup Cup of Benediction Light Merit

172. On the same principle, one should drink from the cup of benediction, so that by his drinking he will merit the blessing of above. Hence, THE ANGELS also ate from what Abraham had prepared for them, in order to be nourished from the side of Abraham - NAMELY, FROM THE LIGHT OF CHASSADIM, as the sustenance of all the angels above proceeds from that side.

172. כְּגַוְּונָא דָּא בָּעֵי לֵיהּ לְבַּר נָשׁ, לְמִשְׁתֵּי מֵהַהוּא כַּסָּא דִּבְרָכָה, בְּגִין דְּיִזְכֵּי לְהַהִיא בְּרָכָה דִּלְעֵילָא. אוֹף אִינוּן אֲכָלוּ, מִמַּה דְּאַתְקֵין לוֹן אַבְרָהָם, בְּגִין דְּיִזְכּוּן לְאִתְזְנָא מִסִּטְרָא דְאַבְרָהָם. דְּהָא מֵהַהוּא סִטְרָא, נְפֵיק מְזוֹנָא לְכָלְהוֹ מַלְאֲכֵי עִלָּאֵי.

Lot Mercy

173. The verse, "and looked toward..." ALLUDES TO the awakening of the quality of Mercy to save Lot. WE LEARN THIS BY COMPARING VERSES. It is written here, "and looked toward," and it is written elsewhere, "Look forth from your Holy habitation" (Devarim 26:15). Because THE LOOKING THERE ALLUDES to Mercy, it does so here as well.

173. וַיַּשְׁקִיפוּ: אִתְעָרוּתָא דְּרַחֲמֵי לְשֵׁיזָבָא לְלוֹט. כְּתִיב הָכָא וַיַּשְׁקִיפוּ, וּכְתִיב הָתָם הַשְׁקִיפָה מִמְּעוֹן קָדְשֶׁךָ. מַה לְּהַלָּן לְרַחֲמֵי, אוֹף הָכָא לְרַחֲמֵי.

Abraham Angels Precepts

174. "And Abraham went with them to bring them on the way" (Beresheet 18:16); that is, he escorted them. Rabbi Yesa said, If Abraham knew that they were angels, why did he have to escort them? Rabbi Elazar responded, Even though he knew they were angels, he did for them what he was accustomed to do for people. Thus, he escorted them, because it behooves one to escort his guests, since everything depends on this. IN OTHER WORDS, THE PRECEPT OF INVITING GUESTS DEPENDS ON ESCORTING THEM, WHICH IS THE FINAL ACT. AND IT IS NOT CONSIDERED A PRECEPT UNTIL AFTER THE PERSON CONCLUDES IT.

174. וְאַבְרָהָם הוֹלֵךְ עִמָּם לְשַׁלְּחָם. לְמֶעְבַּד לוֹן לְוָיָה. אָמַר רָבִּי יֵיסָא אִי תֵימָא דְּאַבְרָהָם יָדַע דְּמַלְאָכִין אִינוּן, אַמַּאי אַעֲבֵיד לוֹן לְוָיָה. אֶלָּא אֲמַר ר' אֶלְעָזָר, אַף עַל גָּב דַּהֲוָה יָדַע, מַה דַּהֲוָה רָגִיל לְמֶעְבַּד עִם בְּנֵי נָשָׁא, עֲבַד בְּהוֹ, וְאַלְוֵי לוֹן. בְּגִין דְּכָךְ אִצְטְרִיךְ לֵיהּ לְבַּר נָשׁ לְמֶעְבַּד לְוָיָה לְאוּשְׁפִּיזִין, דְּהָא כֹּלָּא בְּהַאי תַּלְיָא.

Abraham Court Nukva

175. As he was escorting them, the Holy One, blessed be He, appeared to him, as it is written, "And Hashem said, Shall I hide from Abraham that which I do?" (Ibid. 17) The phrase "And Hashem" APPLIES TO Him and His heavenly court, WHICH IS THE NUKVA, as the Holy One, blessed be He, accompanied them.

175. וּבְעוֹד דְּאִיהוּ הֲוָה אָזֵיל עִמְּהוֹן, אִתְגְּלֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עֲלֵיהּ דְּאַבְרָהָם, דִּכְתִיב וַה' אָמָר הַמְכַסֶּה אֲנִי מֵאַבְרָהָם אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי עֹשֶׂה. וַה': הוּא וּבֵית דִּינֵיהּ, בְּגִין דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא הֲוָה אָזֵיל עִמְּהוֹן.

Shechinah

176. Come and behold, when a person escorts his friend, he draws the Shechinah to join him, and walks along with him to protect him. This is the reason why a person should escort his guest; he joins him with the Shechinah and draws the Shechinah to join him.

176. תָּא חֲזֵי כַּד בַּר נָשׁ עֲבֵיד לְוָיָה לְחַבְרֵיהּ, אִיהוּ אַמְשִׁיךְ לִשְׁכִינְתָּא לְאִתְחַבְּרָא בַּהֲדֵיהּ. וּלְמֵהַךְ עִמֵּיהּ בְּאוֹרְחָא לְשֵׁזָבָא לֵיהּ. וּבְגִין כָּךְ בָּעֵי לֵיהּ לְבַּר נָשׁ לְלַוּוֹיֵי לְאוּשְׁפִּיזָא, בְּגִין דְּחַבַּר לֵיהּ לִשְׁכִינְתָּא, וְאַמְשֵׁיךְ עֲלֵיהּ לְאִתְחַבְּרָא בַּהֲדֵיהּ.

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