Our Sages tell us that Mitzva Goreres Mitzva, one good deed leads to another. When it comes to Avraham Avinu, we find several examples.
In Parshas Vayeira, when Avraham pleads with Hashem on behalf of Sodom and environs, he prefaces his remarks with the phrase, “I am but dust and ashes.”
Chazal tell us that in the merit of these words, his descendants merited the ash of the Red Heifer and the dust used in the Sotah proceedings.
Previously, when offered the spoils of war from the king of Sodom, Avraham had said, “I will not take a thread nor a shoe lace,” for which his descendants merited the mitzvos of tzitzis and Tefillen.
Now, in these cases, Avraham had not actually DONE anything. Rather, he had a deep feeling on the matter which counted as an action.
Regarding the spoils, Avraham professed his complete trust in Hashem to take care of him. In return, we merited tzitzis and Tefillen, both of which are known to provide us protection from our enemies.
This week, it was Avraham’s humility which was so powerful that it resulted in our receiving two mitzvos that help us get out of impurity and sin.
As Jews, we must truly take to heart the beliefs of our forefathers, for that is much more of an action than any simple ritual will ever be.
