Hachnasas Orchim
The beginning of the parashah elaborates on Avraham's hachnasas orchim.
The holy sefarim say that when a tzaddik excels in a mitzvah in his lifetime, he continues to perform this mitzvah after his petirah. For example, Avraham Avinu excelled in his hachnasas orchim, and until today, when a Yid performs hachnasas orchim, Avraham comes to help him perform the mitzvah.
The story of Avraham Avinu's hachnasas orchim and the three malachim is written in the past tense: "He took... He went... He hurried... etc. The exception is the words (18:8), ויאכלו העץ תחת עליהם עומד והוא, "[Avraham] stands above them..." These words are written in the present tense. This implies that until today, when Yidden do hachnasas orchim, Avraham stands there. He is present, for he wants to take part in the mitzvah.
Reb Chaim Brisker zt'l was extremely ill as a child, and all the doctors lost hope. Rebbe Moshe Kobriner was visiting Brisk at the time, and he stayed in the home of Reb Chaim's grandfather. The grandfather said to the Rebbe, "What's going to be with my Chaimke?"
Rebbe Moshe Kobriner told him the vort, that עומד אברהם indicates that Avraham is present at every hachnasas orchim. He added, "Chazal (Bava Basra 16:) say, 'A precious stone hung from Avraham Avinu's neck. Whoever saw the stone was healed.' Since you are hosting me and performing hachnasas orchim, this means Avraham Avinu is here, in this home. Avraham wears the gem that brings refuah. Your Chaimke will surely have a refuah sheleimah." And indeed, he did.
Once, Rebbe Moshe Kobriner was a guest in the home of Rebbe Aharon Karliner zt'l. Reb Aharon told him that his daughter was ill. Rebbe Moshe Kobriner said to the ill girl, "Your father is performing hachnasas orchim. This means the stone of healing is hanging on his neck. Look at your father and you will be healed."
Rebbe Moshe Mordechai of Lelov zt'l was once talking with his chassidim about a certain Yemenite tzaddik who fed hundreds of refugees who lost their homes in World War I.
One of the chassidim said, "I heard that this tzaddik was a chavrusah with one of the kabbalah giants..." He was implying that, in addition to his chesed, this tzaddik was a scholar in the hidden parts of the Torah.
The Rebbe replied, "Why are you mentioning that? Right now, we're discussing that he fed hundreds of homeless Yidden..." as if to say, the merit of feeding Yidden is so great, it isn't necessary to add anything else.
The Baal HaTanya zt'l told the Magid of Mezritz zt'l, "It’s already twenty-four years after my chasunah and I still don’t have children." The Magid told him to perform hachnasas orchim, and he will merit children. As it states (Tehillim 119:9), נער יזכה במה, "How does one merit children? אורחו את, by hosting guests."
The Magid added, "The father of the Baal Shem Tov also merited his child in the merit of hachnasas orchim. This is as it states זרע לכם הא (Bereishis 47:23), and א"ה is roshei teivos for אורחים הכנסת. With hachnasas orchim, one can merit זרע, bearing children.
In this week's parashah, Avraham Avinu was ninety-nine and Sarah Imeinu was eighty-nine, and they were both barren. In the merit of hachnasas orchim, they bore a child the following year.
