The opening of our Parshah is one of the most well known passages in the Torah. Abraham is sitting at the door to his tent, when he has a visitation from G-d. This seems to take the form of three angels in the guise of men, who Abraham proceeds to entertain. They then inform him that by this time next year Sarah will have a child. The Rabbis, for their part, expounded on this passage in a way which enhances its meaning and message. Abraham is recovering from his circumcision, when G-d pays him a visit. G-d, meanwhile, had made it hotter than usual in order to prevent travellers from disturbing the normally hospitable invalid. Yet, when G-d saw that the lack of such guests pained Abraham, He arranges for angels in the guise of men to visit him. Seeing them, Abraham, jumping at the chance to offer hospitality, asks G-d to wait while he sees to the needs of his guests. This passage, then, is seen by Jewish tradition as stressing the importance of hospitality, something indeed implicit in the text itself. G-d visits Abraham when he is sick, Abraham never misses a chance to be hospitable, and even G-d comes second to entertaining travellers. This indicates not only the importance being hospitable to strangers in Jewish tradition, but also the benefits to be gained thereby. Abraham, despite being indisposed, desires the opportunity to entertain. If he cannot offer hospitality to passers by, something is lacking in his life. G-d implies the same by his example; visiting Abraham when he is sick, and taking a back seat to the entertainment of three unknown travellers. By being hospitable to others we often gain more than we give. We learn from others, widen our horizons and turn strangers into friends. Providing hospitality is one of the most basic actions we undertake that stresses our common humanity. A stranger is deserving of our care, not because we know him or he has done us a favour, but simply because he is a human being in need of our assistance. Giving hospitality, we grow as people; enriching our lives beyond their often narrow confines. Yet in too many communities hospitality is left to the Rabbi or a few community workers. Rather than an opportunity, entertaining strangers is seen as a burden. Nothing could be more at variance with the Jewish tradition. People do no realise how much they miss out on when they turn their backs on this important mitzvah. Its time to reclaim hospitality from the few, and all act like children of Abraham.

ALIYAH BY ALIYAH SYNOPSIS

 Sidra Statistics

Parshat Vayera:

• has 147 verses ;
• is the 4th in Genesis, 4th in the Torah
• 4th longest in Genesis, 6th longest in the Torah
• has no mitzvot.

Travelling east towards Sodom?

While people are  saying the silent Amidah, it is forbidden to disturb them by talking or walking around.