Weekly Dvar Torah: Avrohom’s Kindness, G-dly Kindness
A Man of Contradictions?¬
In this week’s Parsha, Vayeira, we encounter four extraordinary stories about Avrohom Avinu that seem almost impossible to reconcile.
Story number one.
Hashem Himself visits Avrohom, recovering from his Bris.
Imagine receiving a personal visit from the Creator of the universe!
Suddenly, Avrohom notices three strangers approaching.
What does he do?
He leaves Hashem waiting and runs to welcome them, offering food, drink, and hospitality!
Our Sages conclude that welcoming guests is greater than receiving the Divine Presence.
Story number two.
Hashem intends to destroy Sdom and Amora, which were among the cruelest societies imaginable! Hospitality was forbidden. Helping the poor was a crime. Compassion could be punished with horrifying torture.
They represented everything Avrohom stood against.
Surely Avrohom would welcome their destruction!
But no!
He stands before Hashem, arguing, negotiating, desperately searching for some justification to save these wicked people.
And why does Hashem consult Avrohom before passing judgment?
The Torah tells us: “Ki Yedativ, Lemaan Asher Yetzaveh Es Banav”—“For I love him, because he will command his children” to follow Hashem’s path, practicing righteousness and justice.
Rashi explains that Yedativ means “I love him.”
Hashem loves Avrohom because he will transmit this G-dly combination of kindness and justice to his descendants. Therefore, He gives Avrohom the opportunity to plead for mercy.
Story number three.
Avrohom’s own son, Yishmael, becomes a threat to Yitzchak.
Sarah demands that Yishmael be sent away.
Avrohom is deeply distressed. But Hashem tells him to listen to Sarah.
And Avrohom sends his son away!
Story number four.
Hashem commands Avrohom to bring his beloved Yitzchak as an offering.
The same Avrohom who passionately defended the wicked people of Sdom doesn’t argue to save his innocent son, the very child for whose sake he had sent Yishmael away!
Instead, he rises early, ready to fulfill Hashem’s command.
Now, who exactly was Avrohom Avinu?
A man whose kindness knew no boundaries? Or a man capable of extraordinary severity?
How could these contradictory behaviors coexist?
The answer lies in the difference between human kindness and G-dly kindness.
Avrohom wasn’t driven merely by his natural feelings. His entire existence was dedicated to fulfilling Hashem’s will, which is the ultimate kindness.
He welcomed strangers, even at the expense of leaving Hashem waiting.
He pleaded for mercy upon Sdom.
He sent Yishmael away despite his anguish.
And at the Akeidah, he was prepared to surrender what was most precious to him.
Because true kindness isn’t necessarily doing what feels kind. It is doing what Hashem wants. That is the ultimate kindness!
Sometimes G-dly kindness manifests itself through compassion and generosity. Sometimes through firmness and severity, outwardly appearing to be the opposite.
But when guided by Hashem’s will, even what appears unkind can itself be the greatest kindness.
After all, showing mercy to the cruel at the expense of their victims isn’t kindness. It’s cruelty.
This is Avrohom’s legacy: Tzedakah U’Mishpat—kindness and justice, united in fulfilling Hashem’s will.
First, exhaust every possibility of kindness and mercy. Only then, when necessary, exercise justice. Even severity must be rooted in kindness.
And this is not merely a lesson about Avrohom. It is the mission of every Jew.
Because living according to Hashem’s will is not always easy. Sometimes we must overcome our own natural inclinations, and sometimes we must confront the darkness and evil around us.
And that requires a soldier!
This Shabbos, Chof Marcheshvan, marks the birthday of the Rebbe Rashab, the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, who established Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim and declared its students soldiers of Beis Dovid, fighting the battle to bring Moshiach.
Their weapons are Torah, Chassidus, goodness, and kindness. But a soldier must also know when to show compassion and when to stand firm, always guided by Hashem’s will.
And how does a soldier win his battles?
With Simcha!
The Alter Rebbe teaches in Tanya that even a stronger fighter can lose when weighed down by sadness, while joy gives him the strength to overcome his opponent.
Our battle against the darkness of Golus must therefore be fought with joy, confidence, and determination.
Like Avrohom, our hearts must overflow with kindness, our principles remain firm, and our spirits radiate joy.
Because our ultimate mission isn’t merely to defeat evil, but to transform the world into a place where evil no longer exists, where kindness and justice reign together, and Hashem’s goodness fills all creation.
That is the world of Moshiach.
And that is the world we are fighting to bring—NOW!
Have a Shabbos of true G-dly kindness!
Gut Shabbos,
Rabbi Yosef Katzman
To support our activities, please Zelle or PayPal to: cablejew@gmail.com
