It is possible for your parent not to be related to you.
And this applies to everyone. In Parshat Vayeira, Hashem pays the ultimate compliment to Avraham Avinu, by saying “למען אשר יצוה את בניו ואת ביתו אחריו - He shall command his children and his household following him,” “ושמרו דרך יהוה לעשות צדקה ומשפט - so that they will follow the way of Hashem: to practice righteousness and justice.”
There is one word which seems to be redundant. It is the word ‘אחריו’ – ‘following him.’ Isn’t that obvious? I believe that this is actually the key word in this entire statement. Fascinatingly, in Parshat Bereishit, we are introduced to a man by the name of Yuval, and Yuval is described as being “אבי כל תפש כנור ועוגב - The father of everyone who holds a harp and a pipe.”
Yuval was the father of music! He introduced music into the world and we see he is described as ‘אבי’ – ‘father.’ He’s the parent of all people who engage in musical activity, indicating that indeed somebody can be your parent, although you’re not related to them: what they have introduced influences your way of life.
Truly, that is what we mean when we refer to Avraham as being Avraham Avinu, Abraham our father. Of course we are privileged to be physically descended from him but that’s not the whole story. In addition, he introduced belief in Hashem into the world, and he went one step further. The text in Parshat Vayeira tells us “ושמרו דרך יהוה לעשות צדקה ומשפט - So that they should keep the way of Hashem: to practice righteousness and justice.”
Avraham didn’t only ‘parent’ the concept of belief in Hashem. He ‘parented’ a concept of דרך ה', a true religious way of life for all those who believe in Hashem, and that way of life must include tzedaka and mishpat. The legacy of Avraham therefore empowers us in our ways to always be mindful of our responsibility for tzedaka – righteousness, uprightness – to be considerate and to be compassionate at all times; and in addition, to guarantee that justice would always prevail.
And now there is a question we have to ask ourselves: What will we become the parents of?
So let’s all join together to pray with all our hearts for the healing of all those injured, for the safe return of those taken as hostages, as well as Divine Protection for our brave IDF soldiers, Police officers, medical professionals, Firefighters, ZAKA members, security personnel and all those citizens protecting us in Israel as well as around the world, and for those who need healing, shidduchim, children or parnassah and may we be blessed to have the most awesome, gorgeous, beautiful, peaceful, healthy, amazing, relaxed, spiritual, safe, quiet and sweet Shabbat.
NO MITZVOT IN THIS PARSHA
Although none of the Taryag (613) mitzvot are counted from Vayera, there are many mitzvot to be found in the Parsha.
Many of the details of the Mitzvah of Hachnasat Orchim, considered part of the mitzvah of G'milut Chassadim, are derived from the behavior of Avraham Avinu. Similarly, Bikur Cholim, is also a part of G'milut Chassadim, as well as being part of the mitzvah to emulate Hashem.
NUMBER OF PESUKIM: 147
NUMBER OF WORDS: 2085
NUMBER OF LETTERS: 7862
HAFTORA:
Ashkenazim & Chabad: Melachim ll 4:1-37
Sephardim & Community of Frankfurt am Main: Melachim ll 4:1-23
