Vayera
The Lord appeared to
him by the Terebinths of Mamre; he was sitting at the entrance of the tent as
the day grew hot. Looking up, he saw
three men standing near him. As soon as he
saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them…
Genesis 18:1-2
This portion of Scripture consists
of a general statement followed by a detailed description. Thus Scripture first says that the Eternal
appeared to Abraham in the form of prophetic visions, and then explains in what
manner this vision took place, namely, that Abraham lifted up his eyes in the
vision…
Maimonides, Guide For The
Perplexed.
Why does Scripture begin the
chapter with the statement, “And God appeared to him,” when in the detailed
account of the vision it is explained that he saw only angels?...Such words
contradict Scripture. It is forbidden to
listen to the, all the more to believe them…Do not be misled by the chapter
separation (between this sidra and the previous). It is all one story.
Ramban
Accordingly the opening verse of
the sidra is not a title giving the main content of the succeeding narrative,
but it is rather the conclusion to the previous chapter, the Divine revelation
constituting the climax and reward of Abraham’s obedience.
Nechama Leibovitz(20th
Century)
One of the secrets of the power of
the Biblical narrative lies in the sharp transitions from one situation to the
other, from the idyllic and tranquil to the tragic and stormy; from the
personal and intimate to the universal and cosmic…Abraham had no idea that he
was about to receive “important” guests.
For him every person was important enough to leave whatever he was doing
and run to welcome the strangers. And
what was he actually doing at that moment?...Abraham was in the midst of a
meeting with God himself, who came to pay him a sick-call. Yet, as soon as he noticed the three
strangers, he left God waiting and ran towards them.
Pinchas Peli (20th
Century)
The problems in Jerusalem could be
solved if there were more Jews willing to open their doors on Friday night…If
the Sabbath is so beautiful, doesn’t it make sense that the people who shout
and demonstrate would want to share their love rather than their anger, the
glow of the Friday night candles, rather than the glare of their Friday night
scowls?...
Shlomo Riskin (Contemporary)