Shalom and Bracha!

   This week’s portion Vayeira, gives a tremendous insight into the creeds that form our people. The portion begins with Avraham rushing to receive and take care of three strangers in sweltering heat while he himself was recovering from circumcision at an advanced age. These strangers were in fact angels, and they announced the upcoming birth of Yitzchak. There is a reason that these strangers heralded his birth. This teaches us that the birth of our people is rooted in self sacrifice for Chessed and Hachnassat Orchim (helping others and hospitality.)

Thereafter Hashem informed Avraham he was going to destroy Sedom and Amora (Sodom and Gomorrah) and the surrounding cities due to their wickedness. Immediately Avraham prayed that they be spared. As Rashi explains, Avraham begged and bargained with Hashem to allow at least some survivors. His pleas bore fruit and one small city was eventually saved. Only thereafter was Yitzchak born. This teaches us that the very birth of our people is based in compassion for everyone, even the very wicked. The people of Sedom were the antithesis of everything Avraham stood for. Never the less, Avraham prayed intensely to save them.

  In the conclusion of the portion the Torah describes the Akeidah, the binding of Yitzchak. Hashem commanded Avraham to bring Yitzchak to the future sight of the Temple in Yerushalayim as an offering. After arriving and making all necessary preparations, when Yitzchak was already bound and on the altar, Hashem commanded Avraham not to harm him. A ram miraculously appeared and Avraham offered it in Yitzchak’s stead. Our nation is rooted in total acceptance of the will of Hashem, whether we understand His reasoning or are baffled thereby.

  The Midrash teaches that the two horns of the ram were made into two Shofars and that each was designated for a momentous occasion. The left horn was sounded when the Torah was given on Mount Sinai when Hashem gave the Torah. The right horn, which is the larger of the two, will herald Moshiach’s coming. The previous Lubavitcher Rebbe taught that the Shofar of Moshiach will awaken us to return to the Torah and that the renaissance of Judaism in our times is because the Shofar has already begun to blow. Fortunate are those who heed Moshiach’s Shofar before his coming. By connecting the Akeida with these events this Midrash has a powerful lesson for all of us. The pure faith demonstrated by the Akeidah is the guide to fulfilling the Torah which was given on Mount Sinai and the path by which to bring Moshiach.

May we speedily hear the Great Shofar and rejoice in Moshiach’s coming.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Biggs