Lead Tidbit

Reminiscing about Sara Imeinu

It’s a sneaky title, because it gives the impression that Parshat Chayei Sara will be the topic of this Lead Tidbit. It isn’t. On the other hand, with the death of Sara Imeinu in the opening p’sukim of the sedra and the death of Avraham Avinu towards the end of the sedra, looking back a week’s sedra is not really “off”. We are going to go back to the beginning of Vayeira, because of some questions that came up this past Shabbat about the visit of the angels to Avraham. Chayei Sara will be covered in the Sedra Summary, so we aren’t abandoning it.
One other word of introduction: There are questions that will be asked that seem better than the answers, even if we get to the answers. We might leave them unanswered to invite TTreader feedback. To be sure, there are different ways these questions can be answered.
So here goes. On the very day that Avraham circumcised himself and the males of his household, G-d told him and assured him, that Sara would bear him a son, to be called Yitzchak, and that the birth would take place around a year from this time.
Just two days later - on the pain-filled third day since the Mila, G-d appears to Avraham - we are taught that is was a visit to the sick, Bikur Cholim, that G-d was doing and was teaching us to do. It’s very hot - G-d make it so in order to allow Avraham some rest from his tent-hospitality program. But G-d sees that Avraham is troubled by the lack of wayfarers, so He sends three angels in the guise of travelers and Avraham enthusiastically greets them and invites them to lunch.
One of the people (angels) tells Avraham that Sara will bear him a son in a year’s time. Avraham heard the same wonderful news from G-d two days earlier. Why did G-d send the angel to Avraham to announce the birth of Yitzchak?
Maybe for Sara’s benefit? But she just overheard the announcement - it was told to Avraham.
Did Avraham share G-d’s message with Sara? If no, why not? If yes, then what purpose did the angel serve?
Did Avraham know that these were angels or did he think they were merely travelers. Perhaps he first thought that they were regular people, but then figured out (or was told) that they were angels. Rashi seems to say that he believed them to be regular people throughout the visit, including when he escorted them upon their leaving. Are there other opinions among our sources? Apparently, yes.
Why did G-d send an angel to heal Avraham when He Himself was on the spot, so to speak? Were the angels originally supposed to identify themselves as angels, but came, instead, as people, to calm Avraham’s disappointment that there were no travelers to greet?
What value would an announcement of the birth of Yitzchak to Avraham and Sara in a year’s time, have, if the announcement came from one of three backpackers? Especially if Avraham thought that these were idolators who worshiped the dust on their feet (as indicated by the fact that the Torah tells us that Avraham told them to wash their feet and remain outside - not entering his tent).
Personal note (from me, Phil):
You know what the most distressing question of all is? Why didn’t I ask these questions during the last 50 years and countless reviews of this sedra?
And do you have any idea how many other questions we can ask from the rest of this sedra and from all of the Torah? Truly, countless.
I expressed doubt as to whether we would even get to any answers. We won’t. Not in this week’s TT, at least.
The beauty of these questions - any questions, that occur to us when we review Parshat HaShavua, is that we have so many commentaries to peruse, so many other people to share the questions with - with the result being different answers from different angles, all of which can enrich us.
Many years ago, during a break in a TARGIL in Milu’m, an army buddy saw me studying a pocket Chumash and asked me what I was doing. I told him that I was reviewing the weekly sedra. He apparently knew what that meant, but he asked if I hadn’t done the same thing in past years.
The answer is clear to anyone who studies Torah. No, you didn’t do the same thing in past years. Yes, you’ve gone over the sedra many times, but if you pay attention, each time is a new experience.
No point in kicking yourself for not having come up with the question before. This is just one indication that we can never FINISH learning the Torah, or any of Tanach, or Mishna or Gemara or…
If you ever review the weekly sedra and don’t have a new question that is bothering you - that’s when you should get a little worried.
Dov Lipman provides readers of Torah Tidbits with three Parsha Points to Ponder each week. Want more (and you should!)? Just open a Chumash and take a fresh look at the weekly parsha. You’ll find many Points to Ponder. Happy pondering.

• Other Lead Tidbit
• The two other sides of the coin
• Across the Board Challenge
• Time, Place, and Self