In Jewish tradition, we read a portion of the 5 Books of Moses each
week in the synagogue on the Sabbath. Someone in the congregation,
often, but not always the rabbi, offers some words of interpretation
of one part of the portion of the week. This past week, we read the
story of Abraham's visit from the three angels/messengers (Genesis
18:1-8)
Below are the words of Rabbi Yaakov Weiss on this section. I thought
you all in particular would find it inspiring.
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The Torah (5 Books of Moses) discusses the meticulous order of the
meal that Abraham offered his guest, recorded in the opening verses
of this week’s Torah portion. First, he gave them cheese and milk,
and only afterward did he present them with calf’s meat.
A point is raised among biblical commentators as to why Abraham
chose to serve his guests these particular items – milk, cheese and
meat – to begin with. The choice of meat is clear, as he wished to
serve his visitors a satisfactory meal. But why, from among many
possible appetizers, did Abraham decide to give them milk and cheese
as a prelude to meat?
The rule of thumb in our world is that sharing something with
somebody else constitutes a loss for the giver. If I have it, and
give it to you, I lose it; if you have it, and give it to me, you
lose it. If I write a check for charity, my checking account
naturally shrinks.
An exception to this rule is the milk the mother feeds her
suckling. As long as a mother continues sharing her nourishing liquid
with the child, her mammary glands will keep on refilling with more
milk. In fact, the quantity of the milk is usually dependent on her
sharing it. The more a mother nurses, the greater the flow of her
milk her body produces. And when she ceases to breast-feed, her inner
production of milk ceases.
This is one of the Kabbalistic (Jewish mysitical) explanations
behind the unique phenomenon of breast-feeding: Through this natural
process of infant nourishment, a mother is given the extraordinary
opportunity to ingrain within her child’s tender consciousness the
truth about sharing. The more you give, the more you will receive,
just like the milk that you are now swallowing. …
Very often guests – particularly if they are strangers – feel
uncomfortable staying in somebody’s else’s home and eating another
person’s food. Abraham, hypersensitive to the feelings of his guests,
addressed this awkwardness by offering them milk and milk products at
that start of the meal.
… The greatest gift we can give ourselves is a life filled with love
and caring toward other human beings.
So let us always remember the importance of giving.
Rabbi Yaakov Weiss
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