~ Something to Think About ~
פרשת וירא
Parsha Stumpers
By: Daniel Listhaus
- The Torah tells us that Avraham was visited by three men who looked
like Arabs. How could they have looked like Arabs if Arabs are descendents
of Yishmael?
- The passuk relates that the malachim “ate” the food
which Avraham prepared for them. Rashi explains that the reason
they pretended to eat is because it is proper not to deviate from the minhag
of the place. Obviously this concept is important enough for the malachim
to proactively eat, as opposed to passively just say that they are not
hungry. What is so important about not deviating from the minhagei
ha'makom? Where in halacha do we see this concept as well?
- After Avraham's bris, Rashi (18:1) tells us that Hashem made it
extremely hot and sunny in order not to trouble Avraham with guests. When
Hashem saw Avraham was upset that no guests were coming, Hashem sent three
malachim. Why didn't Hashem just make it not as hot and sunny and
have the normal traffic of visitors?
- Rashi tells us that one malach cannot perform two missions. Yet we
know that the same malach that came to heal Avraham was the one who
went to save Lot from Sodom (see Rashi 19:1). How could that malach
perform multiple missions?
- The Ba'al Ha'Turim (18:2) writes that because of Avraham's
humility of referring to himself as dust and ash, he merited the mitzvos
of Parah Adumah and Sotah. What is the connection
between these mitzvos and the expressions of Avraham, beyond the
words themselves?
- The Torah testifies (20:14) that Avraham accepted a gift from
Avimelech of flocks, cattle, servants, and maid servants. Similarly we see
that Avraham accepted gifts from Pharoah in last week's parsha. Why
was Avraham willing to take these, yet by the war of the four and five
kings, Avraham refused to accept even a shoe lace?
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