A Caring host - Vayeira 5786

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There is an interesting Talmudic style question on one of the most famous stories in the Torah. 


First the story:  Three angels in the form of people came to visit Avraham. They came to heal him after his circumcision at age 99, to tell Sarah the great news that she was going to have a child at age 90, and to destroy the city of Sodom. Avraham thought they were men, and in the fulfillment of his great kindness, he ran to them to invite them into his tent. 


This was especially striking since at that moment Hashem had appeared to Avraham, and, according to many interpretations of the story, Avraham asked Hashem to wait while he welcomed the guests. He gave them water to wash their feet, asked Sarah to bake bread, and prepared three tongues with mustard (a five star delicacy) for them to eat. 


This is actually quite shocking. When we say Shema we cover our eyes to block the world out. When we say the Amidahstanding with our feet together, we don’t look up from the prayer book and may not interrupt unless there is danger. And this is while praying to Hashemwithout beingable to see Him. Here Avraham was standing before Hashem who had appeared to him, and he asked Hashem to wait while he ran to take care of some passersby!


The Talmud comments that this story teaches us that welcoming guests is greater than receiving Hashem’s presence. Hachnassat Orchim - literally translated as bringing guests in - is a hallmark of Jewish life and considered one of the things that Avraham passed on to us as an everlasting inheritance. 


Now here is the question. Although Avraham thought he was doing a Mitzvah by feeding hungry people, in fact they were not people and not hungry and, according to one opinion, only feigned eating. So here we have a monumental concept, that to welcome a guest is even greater than receiving the Shechina (presence of G-d), and it’s based on a mistake. Abraham was not feeding hungry guests, so he really should not have left Hashem’s presence. Even though he didn’t know, it seems strange that such a major lesson would come from a mistaken act. 


The answer is that it was no mistake and Avraham indeed fulfilled a Mitzvah. There is more to welcoming guests than feeding them and providing food, drink and shelter. When guests see that the host cares about them and is thinking about their needs, it has a profound impact on them. This is why Rambam writes that accompanying guests as they leave is the most important part of the Mitzvah. It shows that the food and drink was given with love and caring and not just because it was a necessity. 


Abraham showed us the way to care about others and offer true kindness. Although Hashem had appeared to him, the greatest gift a person can receive from Him, Abraham set that aside and ran to the guests, offering to provide for all their needs in a truly gracious and caring manner. Whether they actually ate or not is irrelevant to the Mitzvah and the lesson for us. 



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