Now Hashem appeared to him in the plains of Mamre, and he was sitting at the entrance of the tent when the day was hot. And he lifted his eyes and saw, and behold, three men were standing beside him, and he saw and he ran toward them from the entrance of the tent, and he prostrated himself to the ground.18:1-2
We derive from Avraham that Hachnasas Orchim is greater than Kabalas Pnei Hashechina, as he left an audience with Hashem to go take care of his guests. This shows that Hachnasas Orchim takes precedence over speaking to the Shechinah. Avraham Avinu and Sarah merited children due to Hachnasas Orchim. Sarah was almost eighty-nine years old, and she was still barren. Avraham was ninety-nine. But after they did the mitzvah of Hachnasas Orchim (when the three angels came) the angels told her that she would bear a child. The child was born in the merit of Hachnasas Orchim. Avraham would actively seek guests. He would not wait for them to come. He would give them food that was of better quality than they were used to receiving.
The difficult test was passed as Rashi quotes the Midrash that Hashem took the sun out of its sheath so as not to trouble him with wayfarers, but since He saw that he was troubled that no wayfarers were coming, He brought the angels to him in the likeness of men. Avraham was restless, he had to go find some guests. When Hashem saw the sincerity in Avraham, He sent three angels dressed as people, and that was enough for him to undo his bandages and run towards the people to invite them in. Such Hachnasas Orchim rectifies the person and merits them to have children even if by nature they could not have children. The Gemara in Bava Metzia 87 goes through the entire story of Avraham step by step and explains how the Jewish People were repaid by Hashem for Avraham’s chesed. The actions performed by Avraham himself were repaid by Hashem himself, those delegated to a messenger were repaid via messenger.
Of course, Avraham didn’t take in guests in order to merit to have children. He was promised by Hashem twice that he would have children as it states in last weeks Parsha: He would have children as many as the sand, and then as many as the stars in heaven. All he wanted to do was to teach future generations of this merit. We see throughout the prayers in Selichos as well as Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur and Hoshana Rabbah, that Hashem should use the merits of the Avos for us. The Avos had Mesiras Nefesh which paved the way for all future generations.
The Midrash (Tanchuma Ki Seitze 2) states, “there are mitzvohs that their reward is children, like Sarah who hosted guests, and Shunamis who after hosting Elisha was promised a son.” Chazal in the first Mishna Peah, promise great blessings to those who welcome guests into their homes. It is counted amongst the mitzvos that one ‘receives the fruit from in this world, but his capital remains undiminished in the World to Come’.
A powerful story which we can learn a lesson from, happened when Two Yidden came to the city of Kozmir late at night, and were looking for a place to sleep. The only home that there was a light coming from, was the home of Rebbe Yechezkel of Kozmir, ztza’l, - Father of Rebbe Yisrael of Modzitz ztza’l- since he was awake studying Torah. They didn’t know that he was the Rebbe, and they knocked at his door, and asked if they could stay the night. The Rebbe was glad to have them, and he served them and took care of them.
Presently, the gabbay awoke from the commotion, due to the guests. The gabbay didn’t come out of his room, for he assumed that the sounds he heard were neshamos, who came to Rebbe Yechezkel from heaven, that he fix their souls. The next day in the beis medresh, the gabbay was telling people about the souls who came to the Rebbe's home for a tikun. The Rebbe called over his gabbay and told him, "It is true that precious souls came last night, but they didn’t come to me so I could fix their souls. They came to fix my soul." For they gave him the merit of Hachnasas Orchim.
When a Mitzvah comes forth, it is sent by Hashem in order to benefit. When we help another Yid in his dire times, we are in reality helping ourselves. Tzaddikim explain the Posuk d® ̈nEx §Y i−¦l Eg §w ¦i §e “and they shall take to Me a portion, from every man whose heart will motivate him shall you take My portion.” (Shemos 25:2) The question is that, given the fact that people are being asked to give a portion rather than take a portion, the Posuk should say “d® ̈nEx §Y i−¦l Ep §z ¦i §e” they should give rather than take “i−¦l Eg §w ¦i §e d® ̈nEx §Y.” The answer is that by giving tzedaka, you are receiving something in return. Besides doing the Mitzvah, you will be elevated and have merits.
(Yehuda Z. Klitnick)
