Parashah “Vayeira” (G-d appeared to him) begins by telling us about Avraham and Sarah’s incredible “hachnasas orchim” ( mitzvah of taking care of guests) and generosity.
It had been three days after Abraham had his circumcision and he was recovering from it when three angels disguised as men passed by his tent. Abraham ran to greet them and invite them in for a meal. One of the angels came to tell them that they would have a baby boy.
Towards the end of the Parashah we read about the birth of Yitzchak, Abraham and Sarah’s only child- exactly one year after the angels came.
The Torah is not a history book, rather it is our family album. In this case it is teaching us that it was through Abraham and Sarah’s acts of kindness that Yitzchak came to be.
Yitzchak was the first Jew to be born from a Jewish mother and father. Abraham and Sarah were converts. By recounting the hospitality and generosity shown by his parents before his birth, the Torah is teaching us how important these values are in Judaism.
Thus we learn that “tzedakah” (charity) and “chesed” (kindness) are amongst the most essential matters in the life of every single Jew.
When we act in this way we are really not doing anything special, we are just acting according to our DNA, when we don’t act in this way we are really not living true to ourselves.
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