Dvar Torah: Parshat Vayera

This week's parsha is Parshat Vayera. In this parsha, we learn about three important visitors who come to visit Avraham and Sarah. They bring a special message that Sarah will have a baby, even though she is very old. At the end of the parsha, Isaac is born, Avraham and Sarah’s first son. This was a huge miracle.

One thing that stood out to me in this week's parsha was Avraham standing by his tent for his guests. The torah states, “והוא יושב פתח האהל” . Avraham would sit at the entrance of his tent and watch for anyone who seemed hesitant to come inside. Rashi says he did this because he wanted “to see if there is a passerby and take him into his home.” Avraham was very generous and kind to guests, but here he didn’t call them guests: instead he called them “passerby.” Sometimes, when people are invited to someone's home, they can feel very uncomfortable and even too shy to go inside. Avraham was known for his exceptional hospitality. He wanted all his guests to feel welcome and at ease in his home. So, he did something special. If he noticed someone passing by and feeling too shy to enter, he would personally invite them in, even if they were not a scheduled guest of his. This story highlights Avraham's kindness and how much he cared about making his guests feel comfortable. It's a great example of the importance of being welcoming and considerate to others.