VaYera

Bereishit 18-22

Seeing as Personal Involvement

Rabbi Josh Cahan, 5764

Parashat VaYera is a powerful parasha. I want to look a bit at its opening scene, and specifically the opening word, "וַיֵּרָא" - "VaYera". God appeared to Abraham-as Abraham sits at his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham is given the opportunity to see God. A fantastic moment, we would think. What is interesting, though, is that this "revelation" bears no resemblance at all to the grandiose scene of clouds and lightning coming down on Mt. Sinai. It is not even like the scene of Moses seeing the Burning Bush, a scene whose supernatural character is essential. It is, in fact, quite mundane. Abraham, lounging around at home, sees three normal-looking guys, probably dressed appropriately for the hot weather, walking along the road and approaching Abraham's tent in search of a bit of hospitality. It is a strange type of revealing. Look at the next verse: "...וַיִּשָּׂא עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא" - Abraham lifted his eyes and saw ("VaYar") the men coming. Again the same word - seeing. Then a third time: "וַיַּרְא וַיָּרָץ לִקְרָאתָם" - "VaYar vayaratz likrotam" - "he saw and ran to meet them", leaping up to offer them shelter from the heat. The hammering repetition of this verb points at something deeper. God reveals, and Abraham sees, but Abraham must see a second time-he must see in a more profound way-before he is moved to jump up and reach out to them.

A good model for the meaning of this verb can be found in the story of the Burning Bush. In Exodus 3:2, the angel of God appears to Moses-"...וַיֵּרָא מַלְאַךְ יְהֹוָה אֵלָיו", and Moses in turn sees the miraculous Bush-"וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה הַסְּנֶה בֹּעֵר בָּאֵשׁ וְהַסְּנֶה אֵינֶנּוּ אֻכָּל". However, once he has already seen it, he stops and says, "אָסֻרָה נָּא וְאֶרְאֶה אֶת הַמַּרְאֶה הַגָּדֹל הַזֶּה" - "I should turn aside to see this marvelous vision." He needs a second look. What is he looking for? "?!מַדּוּעַ לֹא יִבְעַר הַסְּנֶה" - "WHY doesn't the bush burn up?!" He seeks to experience the event on a deeper level.

This is the true meaning of sight in the Bible. To see something fully is to become personally involved in it, to see not its superficialities but its most profound essence. Hearing ("שמע" - ‘shma') connotes understanding, but seeing connotes insight. Therefore, God says to Moses, I have been inspired to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, why? Because I have really seen ("רָאֹה רָאִיתִי") their suffering. I have come to know that suffering, to be personally involved in it. This deep kind of seeing, of looking beyond the surface and investing oneself, is the prerequisite for divine-human involvement and, for that matter, for any kind of real relationship between people. Only once Moses had moved to that deeper kind of seeing, choosing to turn aside and look, to become personally invested in this vision, was God prepared to speak to him, to connect with him. Similarly, Abraham is moved to reach out and bring these strangers, these messengers of God, into his home only after he has taken a second look. His mitzvah of hachnasat orchim, of welcoming guests, begins by engaging them deeply, by opening himself up to them.