“Hashem appeared to him in the plains of Mamre…” (18:1)
Rashi cites the Medrash that Hashem appeared to Avraham on the territory of Mamre because Mamre gave Avraham the advice to perform the circumcision. Rav Yeruchim Levovitz zt”l stated that from here we see the great merit of giving people good advice. When Hashem commanded Avraham to be circumcised, others advised Avraham not to circumcise himself. When Mamre heard about the matter, however, he advised Avraham to do it and for this, he was greatly rewarded.[1]
“I will return to you at this time next year…” (18:14)
When Avraham was promised by an angel that he will have a child at 99 years old, he was told that the same angel would one day return. Interestingly, there is no record in the Torah of the angel returning. I heard from Rav Yitzchok Fingerer shlit”a that Rashi, in Pardes HaGadol, asks this question. He says that the Torah seemingly doesn’t record the angel resurfacing. The Torah says that the angel said, “I will return to you “Ka’eis Chaya”, which can be interpreted to mean “at the time when one is in need of life.” Rashi says that the angel did indeed come back to Avraham.
Just as Avraham is about to sacrifice Yitzchok, an angel appears on the scene cautioning him to spare Yitzchok’s life and let him live. The same Malach, the same angel that accompanied Yitzchok for birth, reappeared, to save his life thirty-seven years later.
Every Jewish child has a Malach, an angel that teaches them Torah in utero and has faith in them to grow up as devout Jews. The Malach never gives up on the child and no matter the struggle or deviant behavior, may resurface years later to rekindle and reignite the dormant spirituality. The angel will return when a person needs help the most...
“Hashem had remembered Sarah…” (21:1)
he Chafetz Chaim writes that we read this section of the Torah on Rosh Hashanah. The reason for this is to develop hope and trust in Hashem. Nothing is impossible for Him. Sarah was already ninety years old and according to all the standard rules of nature it would have been impossible for her to give birth to a child. Nevertheless, since Hashem willed it she gave birth to Yitzchok.
Even when a situation seems bleak and the probability for salvation seems unlikely, do not give up hope. Hashem’s laws are more powerful than the law of averages. This awareness is so important for our daily lives that at the beginning of each year we repeat this message: never despair!
There was once a man who came to the Chazon Ish’s house with a very heavy heart. When he came in, the Chazon Ish had just started reciting the blessing of Asher Yatzar (the blessing one recites after using the restroom). The person was very impatient and before the Chazon Ish finished the blessing, he blurted out his problem. His young child had polio during the epidemic in Eretz Yisroel and the doctors were unable to do anything to help.
The Chazon Ish indicated to him with his finger that he wanted to complete the blessing. Reciting each word loudly and clearly, the Chazon Ish emphasized the final words: “The healer of all flesh, and He does wonders.” In a very gentle tone, the Chazon Ish turned to the man and said, “You hear that the Almighty makes wonders.” This is all the Chazon Ish said and in a very short time, the child completely recovered.[2]
