Do the Minimum
But now we're going to study another aspect of what Avraham said to the Bnei Cheis; it’s included in בֶאֱמֶת לְכֹל אֲשֶׁ ר יִקְרָ אֻהו, and it’s going to be our subject tonight. Because let’s say that the people of the town were not interested in helping Avraham Avinu by going to speak with Efron about selling the field. It could be. Maybe they don’t want to get involved. Maybe they’re too busy. Maybe they’re not interested in dealing with Efron; could be.
So what did Avraham say to them? לִ י פִ גְ עו ו – Approach him for me. Yes, that’s really what I would like from you. וְ אִ ם לַ או – But in case you’re not interested in helping me like that, לִ י עִ לַ וֵ יה צַ לו – so at least pray for me.
And that’s a second intention our Sages saw in Avraham’s words: לִי פִגְעו ו – At least pray for me! To pray for me, for my success in convincing Efron to sell the field to me, at least that you could do. And therefore if you really care about helping me, that’s the minimum you’re required to do.
That's something new now. Even though it's a blemish in the quality of your prayers – if you could do more so it’s a pegimah in your tefillah if all you do is daven – nevertheless don't say, “Since I'm not interested enough to get up and to activate myself on his behalf then I won't do anything.” No. Whatever you can do, even a prayer, you should do.
It’s Not So Minimum
Now, that's already an important limud about how we shouldn't waste opportunities in our obligation of gemillas chessed and ahavas Yisroel. לִ י פִ גְ עו ו – Pray for me! At least that! Everyone speaks about ahavas Yisroel, about helping their fellow Jews, but what about doing something? And even if the doing is only tefillah, it’s something. It’s the minimum you can do.
So therefore in case you're passing a house with a nice big mezuzah in the doorway. So you know that inside they're shomrei mitzvos. There are probably a lot of children in that house. Ooh, that’s a holy home! You know it takes mesiras nefesh to raise big families. And so a big family of frum Jews, they deserve your love, your gemillas chassodim, absolutely. Who should you be helping if not them?
