VAYERA: Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself

"And the Lord appeared to him at Elonei Mamreh as he sat at the door of the tent in the heat of the day. And he lifted his eyes and looked, and lo, three men were standing above him." -Bereshit 18:1-2

"At the door of the tent." A good door was open to the passerby. -Bereshit Rabbah 48.8

Our Sages teach us that Abraham first knew God at the age of three. No doubt his early primal knowledge of the Creator earned him the title "Father of a multitude of nations." Beyond his special relationship with God, and apart from his spiritual elevation, great emphasis is placed on Abraham's interpersonal relationships and his behavior toward his fellow man. Therefore, in enumerating his attributed, God says of Abraham: "For I have known that he will command his children and descendants to guard God's ways to do charity and justice, so that God may bring to Abraham all that He has spoken to him."

Exclusive preoccupation with precepts governing man's relationship with God is not sufficient. Jewish guidelines governing man's interpersonal relationships "to do charity and justice," are basic, as well. Moreover, they may even be superior. The Talmud (Shabbat 127) tells us: "Said Rabbi Yehuda in the name of Rav: 'Welcoming guests is greater than welcoming God's presence."

Greatness is achieved by serving God through righteous behavior toward one's fellow man. Abraham sat "at the door of the tent." The Midrash elaborates: "A good door was open to the passerby." Abraham's service to God is welcoming guests into his home. It was not important to Abraham who these passersby were. The fact that these men were, at first glance, less than savory characters did not deter him. "Rabbi Levi said: One appeared to him as a Sarki (Ishmaelite), one as a Navati (Safanite,) and one as an Arab" (Bereshit Rabbah 48.9)

Shattering his father;s idols and bringing sacrificial offerings did not complete Abraham's spiritual wholeness. Charity and justice toward others were essential as well.

Our Rabbis interpret, "He sat at the door of the tent in the heat of the day": Just as the sun shines and warms all humans equally and without discrimination, so too, Abraham sat at the door of his tent and was prepared to welcome all, without scrutiny or bias. This was his method of serving his Creator.

As the Talmud teaches (Avot 2.1): "Which is the proper path that man should choose for himself? That which brings credit to him and earns him the esteem of his fellow men." Following that path sanctifies God's name. Thus, even as God Himself was appearing to him, Abraham saw an opportunity to do charity, and he seized upon it.

This is the great task that stands before his descendants as well - to serve God through charity and justice with our fellow men. Man's relationship with God is reflected in his interpersonal relationships, and God rewards man accordingly. The lesson to be learned in our own dealings, attitudes and conflicts with others is self evident. Surely the diversity between two people, and especially between two Jews, no matter how great it may appear, is not greater than that which was between Abraham and the three unlikely strangers that approached his tent. In the words of Rabbi Akiva, "Love thy neighbor as thyself 0 this is a great principle of the Torah."