*VAYERA *
If people don't feel comfortable in the community,
they won't stay long enough to enjoy its richness.
In this week's portion, Abraham and Sarah set the bar pretty high when it comes to welcoming guests and making them feel at home. We can all probably take a few hints from their hospitality. MORE>
weekly * torah * learning
PARSHAT
* VAYERA *
By Nancy Reuben
As Abraham was sitting before his tent, after
having circumcised himself, God
appeared. Abraham lifted up his eyes and
saw three men standing there.
Abraham invited them to come in
and made a fine meal for them.
Three guests arrive at Abraham and
Sarah's tent
They inform Abraham that God
will give the elderly Sarah a child. The prophecy
comes true, and they name their
son Isaac.
One of the men said that Sarah would have
a son by the time he returns to their
tent. Sarah heard this comment and
laughed to herself, saying, “Oh, that I shall
have the greatest fulfillment now that I
am already worn out and my husband
is an old man!”
This week's haftarah contains two stories about the prophet Elisha, a protégé
husband has died, and she is so destitute without him that her children are about
Elijah In the first story an unnamed woman, traditionally identified as the wife o
Elisha asks her if she has anything of value in her house, and she replies that all
she has is a single jug of oil. Elisha then instructs her to borrow as many vessels as
she can from her neighbors. Then, he tells her to pour the oil from her vessel into
the other ones. Miraculously, the oil does not run out, ultimately lasting long
enough to fill all the borrowed jugs. She returns to Elisha, who tells her, "Go sell
the oil and pay your debt, and you and your children can live on the rest."
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