Parshat Vayera 5778
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week's parsha that Hashem destroys Sodom. But before He destroys Sodom, He informs Avraham of His plan. The Torah tells us that Hashem didn't want to keep this information from Avraham for he was to be a great nation. And he will teach his children the ways of Hashem as the pasuk says (Chapter 18, Pasuk 19), Ki Yedativ L'Ma'an Asher Yetzave es Banav V'es Beiso Acharav, V'Shamru Derech Hashem La'asos Tzadakah U'Mishpat. I know him that he will teach his children to follow in the ways of Hashem and act righteously and with justice. And as soon as He informs Avraham, he begins to pray for the people of Sodom.
What is the reason for this verse which describes what Avraham will teach his children and how does it relate to Avraham accepting responsibility and immediately praying for the people of Sodom?
The Sfas Emes teaches in the name of the Chidushei HaRim that when the pasuk says Ki Yedativ L'Ma'an Asher Yetzave es Banav V'es Beiso Acharav, it doesn't mean I know him and I know that he will teach will teach his children the way of Hashem. Rather, the words Ki Yedativ mean that I have filled him with knowledge of Me. And the reason I have done this is L'Ma'an Asher Yetzave es Banav V'es Beiso Acharav. I have filled Avraham with such an acute awareness of My presence so that this could be passed on and continued in future generations. This knowledge and connection to Hashem will be inherited and be part of the genetic makeup of future generations of the Jewish people. And when Bnei Yisrael merit, they feel within themselves the power and the light of the Avos contained within their hearts. As the pasuk in Malachi states (Chapter 3, Pasuk 24), V'Heishiv Lev Avos al Banim, V'Lev Banim al Avosam. When Bnei Yisrael merit they can connect to the Lev Avos contained within each and every one of us.
This connection tends to weaken when Bnei Yisrael are in galus. We say in davening in the morning the pasuk from Nechemia (Chapter 9, Pasuk 9), Vatere es Ani Avoseinu B'Mitzrayim, He saw the suffering of our forefathers in Egypt. The Sfas Emes quotes the Gemara in Brachos 16B Eiyn Avos Ela Shelosha, the term forefathers refers to our three forefathers Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov. He explains the pasuk to mean that when Bnei Yisrael were in galus in Mitzrayim their connection to the Avos suffered. They didn't feel the Lev Avos contained within their souls; the desire for connection to Hashem they received from the Avos was in decline.
The pasuk in Nechemia continues with the words V'es Za'akasam Shamata al Yam Suf, you heard them cry out at Yam Suf. Chazal teach us that when Bnei Yisrael cried out to Hashem when they saw the Egyptians advancing (see Rashi in Beshalach, Chapter 14, Pasuk 10), Tafsu Omnus Avosam, they were grabbing a skill they had acquired from their forefathers. Though their connection to the Avos was at a low ebb, at their moment of great need they held on to something which had been ingrained in their hearts from their forefathers; Tefilla Avos Tiknum. When a Jew feels his back up against the wall he prays to Hashem and this is one of the traits we inherited from our forefathers. The beginning of the Geula was when Bnei Yisrael were able to revive their Lev Avos, their longing for connection to Gd which had been first been embedded in them by Avraham Avinu.
This is what Hashem means when He says Ki Yedativ L'Ma'an Asher Yetzave es Banav V'es Beiso. The knowledge of Hashem which I have given him is in order that it should be passed on to this great nation which he will become. And what does Avraham do immediately upon hearing Hashem's plan? He davens. This unique awareness and connection to Gd which is given as the reason for Hashem revealing His plan to Avraham is immediately expressed by Avraham davening to save Sodom. For part of the knowledge and awareness of Gd that Avraham had acquired was knowing who runs the world and where to turn in a time of need. And it was precisely the legacy of the Avos establishing Tefillah that served Bnei Yisrael in their time of need and was a fundamental step in bringing about the Geula from Mitzrayim.
Good Shabbos
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