Parashat Vayera- The Proper Attitude Toward Misvot
**Shabbat Candle lighting Time in NYC, Friday Nov. 14th 2008: 4:20 PM
**Minha, Seudat Shelishit, Derasha, and Arbit on Shabbat Nov. 15th starts at 3:50 PM
At the beginning of Parashat Vayera, we find Abraham on the third day since his Berit Mila (circumcision), the day which marked the most difficult period of the recovery process. Abraham, a one-hundred-year-old man, underwent the surgical procedure of circumcision without an anesthetic, and undoubtedly experienced immense pain, particularly on the third day.
Yet, rather than staying in bed, Abraham is sitting by the entrance to his tent, on the lookout for any travelers that may need food or lodging. At first, he didn’t see any travelers. God wanted to spare Abraham the difficulty of hosting guests in his condition of illness, and therefore brought searing heat to the region, during which nobody would travel. But Abraham did not relent. He remained outside, hoping that somebody would pass by so that he could perform the great Misva of "Hachnasat Orehim" (welcoming guests). God, in response, dispatched three angels who appeared to Abraham as nomads.
Abraham’s conduct on this day serves as the paradigmatic example of the attitude we ought to have toward Misva observance. Abraham had every reason to stay inside; he most certainly had a basis for exempting himself from welcoming guests. But Abraham did not look for exemptions; he looked for Misvot. He strove not to avoid obligations, but to accept more obligations. Understanding the inestimable value of each and every Misva, Abraham was unrelenting in his pursuit of opportunities to perform Misvot, as this story in Parashat Vayera demonstrates.
This story also shows that when a person truly desires to perform Misvot, God will provide opportunities. When the Almighty saw how Abraham refused to go inside in spite of his illness and the harsh weather conditions, He responded by sending the three angels. If a person sincerely seeks Misva opportunities, then they will come.
The Gemara in Masechet Yoma (38a) tells the story of Nikenor, a man who sponsored the construction of two magnificent gates for the Bet Ha’mikdash. The gates were produced in Alexandria, Egypt, and Nikenor escorted them on the ship toward Israel. Along the way, a vicious storm erupted, and the ship started to sink. The sailors had no choice but to cast one of the heavy doors overboard, into the sea. But the storm continued to rage, and so the sailors prepared to throw off the second gate, as well. Nikenor immediately ran to the gate, held it tight, and announced that if they throw off the second gate, he will jump off the boat with it. At that moment, the storm came into an end. The ship continued sailing and arrived at the port of Acco. When the people disembarked, they saw the first gate floating in the water underneath the ship. It had followed the ship all the way to the shore!
To commemorate this miracle, these gates were called "Shaareh Nikenor."
Once again, a person demonstrated his immense love for the Misva, his refusal to give up an opportunity for a Misva, and God intervened to ensure the success of his efforts.
Unfortunately, most of us approach Torah obligations with the precise opposite attitude. We celebrate when we are exempt, and we begrudgingly accept obligation. But if we truly understood the value of Misvot, we would exert every effort to avoid exemptions, to accept more obligations, and go well above and beyond the strict call of duty. We would follow the example of our great patriarch, who even under the most difficult conditions did not relent in his quest to perform Misvot.
Once, a man who always ensured to pray with a Minyan fell ill, and he phoned his Rabbi to ask if he was exempt from going to the synagogue in light of his illness. The Rabbi informed him that he was certainly exempt, and he may stay home and pray privately. But the man was not satisfied. He began describing how much he wishes he could pray with a Minyan, and expressed his dismay over having to pray privately. At that very moment, he heard a knock on the door. Nine of his friends had come pay him a visit and make a Minyan for him.
When a person sincerely desires to fulfill Misvot, God will step in to ensure that he is able to do so.
