Dvar Torah
All for others
:ouhv ojf kvtv j,p cah tuvu trnn hbktc wv uhkt trhu
(t:jh ,hatrc)
The Torah tells us (18:1) that after Avraham performed the Brit Milah, he was sitting outside his door. Rashi explains that Avraham was doing so to see if anyone would pass by so he could perform the Mitzvah of Hachnasat Orchim (inviting guests). However, Hashem had made it a very hot day so no one would come out and Avraham would be able to rest. This pained Avraham since the Mitzvah that he exemplified was caring for guests. But why did Avraham make this his priority? Were there no other Mitzvot that he could do?
The Medrash tells us that Avraham once asked Shem, one of the sons of Noach, "tell me, in what merit did Hashem keep you alive in the ark?"
"We survived because of our acts of charity" Shem answered.
"What do you mean? there were no poor people with you in the ark!" asked Avraham.
"I refer to the charity to the animals," explained Shem. We stayed awake entire nights giving them food."
If this is so, how much more important is it to sustain human beings!" Avraham answered. We see from this, that caring for others is very important. We are taught "Olam Chessed Yibone" this means: "the world is built through acts of kindness. Now we can understand why Avraham needed guests to care for.
From this, we can learn how important it is for us to try and help other people and perform the Mitzvah of Hachnasat Orchim.
Shabbat Shalom!
Parsha Questions
1) The פרשה begins וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו ה' בְּאֵלֹנֵי מַמְרֵא, why did Hashem come to see אברהם? Why that day? (see רש"י בראשית יח:א)
2) Why was אברהם sitting at the entrance to his tent? (see רש"י בראשית יח:א and בבא מציעא פו:)
3) Why were there three מלאכים? (see רש"י בראשית יח:ב)
4) Why did אברהם bring water to wash their feet? (see רש"י בראשית יח:ד)
5) What do you think we can learn from this? (This is a thinking question.)
6) What did one of the מלאכים promise אברהם and שרה? (see בראשית יח:י)
7) Why did שרה laugh? (see בראשית יח:יב)
8) When Hashem related שרה’s thoughts to אברהם, He did not relate them precisely. Why?
(see רש"י בראשית יח:יג)
9) Why does the פסוק tell us וְאַבְרָהָם הֹלֵךְ עִמָּם לְשַׁלְּחָם? What מצות do we see אברהם fulfilled when he had guests? (Hint: אשל)
10) Why did Hashem tell אברהם what he planned to do in סדום? (see בראשית יח:יז-יט)
11) When אברהם asked Hashem to consider sparing the cities of סדום and עמרה, why did אברהם stop at ten צדיקים? (see רש"י בראשית יח:לב)
12) What possessed לוט to break the laws of סדום and invite the מלאכים to come to his house? (see 2 parts from רש"י בראשית יט:א)
13) Why was לוט sitting at the gates of the city? (see רש"י בראשית יט:א)
14) What did the מלאכים do to the men of סדום who were trying to get into לוט‘s house?
(see 2 רש"י בראשית יט:יא)
15) Who went along with לוט when he ran away from סדום? (בראשית יט:טז)
16) Why weren’t they allowed to look back? (see רש"י בראשית יט:יז)
17) In what merit did Hashem save לוט? (see רש"י בראשית יט:יז)
18) What happened to לוט’s wife? Why? (see רש"י בראשית יט:כו)
19) Why did אברהם move locations from where he had been? (see רש"י בראשית כ:א)
20) What can we see from this about how we serve Hashem? (This is a thinking question)
21) What happened to אבימלך and his people when they took שרה? (see רש"י בראשית כ:ט)
22) Why does the תורה tell us that Hashem remembered שרה? Explain. (see רש"י בראשית כא:א)
23) What promise did Hashem make to אברהם regarding יצחק? Explain why this is SO important. (see בראשית כא:יג)
24) Where was אברהם supposed to take יצחק? For what? (see רש"י בראשית כב:ב)
25) Who went along on this trip? Why? (see רש"י בראשית כב:ג)
26) What happened as אברהם was about to sacrifice יצחק? (see רש"י בראשיתכב:י-יא)
27) What did אברהם see caught in a tree? From when was it there? (see רש"י בראשית כב:יג)
Classroom Check-in!
Questions about what we are learning in class
1) Why is it important to know that Ayhud was a lefty?
2) What reward did Eglon receive for honoring the word of Hashem?
3) Who was Uvtzan?
4) Why is it important for us to know that all of the Jewish people crossed the Jordan River to battle Moav?
Torah Math
In the story of the Akaida (sacrifice of Yitzchak) the theme "ירושלים" is repeated over and over. The place of the actual Akaida, we are taught, was the top of Har Hamoria which is Yerushalaim:
1) When telling where to bring Yitzchak the Torah says to the land of Moriah.
(בראשית כב:ב) אל הארץ המריה = בירושלים
2) When telling us that Avraham saw the place that Hashem had sent them to.
(בראשית כב:ד) את המקום = זה ירושלים
Go ahead and check the numbers!
TORAH TRIVIA!
Super Stumper Question:
This a question to ask others and discuss the answers.
Answer to last week’s Question:
Q: What people on TANA”CH became angels? (list at least 2)
A: Two people in Tana”ch that became angels are Chanuch and Pinchas (who became Eliyahu).
Question of the week:
Q: In the upcoming Parsha Avraham says a eulogy for Sarah, what did he say?
A: Coming soon!
Kollel Quiz
#1 Who Am I?
1. Blow to remember.
2. In a bind.
3. I caused blindness.
4. I am tenth.
#2 Who Am I?
1. I made people laugh.
2. I am second.
3. Mincha is mine.
4. Korban.
FOOD Section!
Can you guess what this recipe connects to this week’s Parsha?
Angel Food Cake
Original recipe makes 1 - 10 inch cake Change Servings
1 1/4 cups cake flour
1 3/4 cups white sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups egg whites
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
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Directions
1) Beat egg whites until they form stiff peaks, and then add cream of tartar, vanilla extract, and almond extract.
2) Sift together flour, sugar, and salt. Repeat five times.
3) Gently combine the egg whites with the dry ingredients, and then pour into an ungreased 10 inch tube pan.
4) Place cake pan in a cold oven. Turn the oven on; set it to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Cook for about one hour, or until cake is golden brown.
5) Invert cake, and allow it to cool in the pan. When thoroughly cooled, remove from pan.
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