Vayera 2016

Abraham and Sara’s Tent

In the beginning of this week's Torah portion (Vayara) we find Abraham talking to G-d. Suddenly he sees three nomads coming toward him. Immediately Abraham runs out to greet them, brings them into his open tent and cooks them a meal. (It is this preoccupation with over feeding people that deems him the first Jew.) In contrast to Noah, whose place is a hermetically sealed ark, Abraham's place is an open tent encouraging hospitality. The commentaries suggest that perhaps this is why the world was destroyed in Noah's day and not in Abraham's, and why Abraham was the first Jew and not Noah. 

We live at a time of great strife and we must live up to the challenge of Abraham, keeping our Jewish mission to be open and giving like Abraham and not sealed off and indifferent like Noah.  This attitude in Judaism is called chesed or kindness and is the source of many mitzvoth.  This week choose one new mitzvah of kindness to do toward another person.  Just one action.  In the merit of our chesed may the world merit peace and holiness.