Avraham made it his goal in life to achieve perfection in his love for Hashem and also to draw others to the service of the Creator. Yitzchak and Yaakov followed in his footsteps. It is little wonder, then, that Hashem chose to be called Elokai Avraham, Elokai Yitzchak ve'Elokai Yaakov - the G-d of Avraham, the G-d of Yitzchak and the G-d of Yaakov. Our forefathers' minds constantly concentrated on Hashem and their lives revolved around His will. Even when conducting their daily affairs and performing labor, they merely performed these motions mechanically while their thoughts did not depart from Hashem for even a single moment. Avraham, who was blessed with great wealth, utilized his entire fortune for the purpose of aggrandizing Hashem's name in the world.
Avraham once asked Shaim, son of Noach, "Tell me, in which merit did Hashem keep you alive in the ark?"
"We survived due to our charity," replied Shaim.
"What does that mean? There were no poor people with you in the ark!" said Avraham.
"I refer to our charity to the animals," explained Shaim. "We stayed awake entire nights giving them food."
"If this is so," Avraham reasoned, "how much more important is it to sustain human beings!"
For this purpose, Avraham planted a beautiful orchard in Be'er Sheva. His tent was constructed with four entrances constantly open to attract guests from all directions, and every weary traveler was welcomed there with shelter and abundant refreshments. Soon the word spread that a wonderful man had opened a free-for-all hotel in the desert. The guests streamed in from far and near, enjoyed their meal, thanked their host, and arose to leave.
"You must recite a blessing after your meal!" Avraham exhorted them. "Say, 'Blessed be the Master of the Universe of whose bounty we have eaten!'"
"We do not want to recite this blessing!" the guests complained. "Who is this Master of the Universe?"
"Do as you please, but in that case you owe me payment for the meal!" said Avraham.
"How much does it cost?" inquired the guests.
"A bottle of wine - ten gold pieces. A steak - ten gold pieces. A loaf of bread -ten gold pieces!" was the answer.
"This is far too expensive!" exclaimed the wanderers.
"Please tell me," argued Avraham, "what is the price of bread offered in the midst of a wilderness." Where else are you able to obtain wine or meat in this uncultivated region?"
"You are right!" they conceded. "Who was that Master whom you asked us to thank? Let us bless Him!"
Thus Avraham, by means of his hospitality and teachings, drew tens of thousands of people to Hashem"s service. His wife Sara was equally devoted to spreading the truth in the world by teaching the women.
As long as Sara was alive, the doors of the tent were always wide open. In her merit, the cloud of the shechima (Divine Light) rested above the tent, the candle she lit on Erev Shabbas was never extinguished, and the food in the household was blessed with abundance.
[Rabbi Moshe Weissman, The Midrash Says, The Book of Beraishit]
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Avraham once asked Shaim, son of Noach, "Tell me, in which merit did Hashem keep you alive in the ark?"
"We survived due to our charity," replied Shaim.
"What does that mean? There were no poor people with you in the ark!" said Avraham.
"I refer to our charity to the animals," explained Shaim. "We stayed awake entire nights giving them food."
"If this is so," Avraham reasoned, "how much more important is it to sustain human beings!"
For this purpose, Avraham planted a beautiful orchard in Be'er Sheva. His tent was constructed with four entrances constantly open to attract guests from all directions, and every weary traveler was welcomed there with shelter and abundant refreshments. Soon the word spread that a wonderful man had opened a free-for-all hotel in the desert. The guests streamed in from far and near, enjoyed their meal, thanked their host, and arose to leave.
"You must recite a blessing after your meal!" Avraham exhorted them. "Say, 'Blessed be the Master of the Universe of whose bounty we have eaten!'"
"We do not want to recite this blessing!" the guests complained. "Who is this Master of the Universe?"
"Do as you please, but in that case you owe me payment for the meal!" said Avraham.
"How much does it cost?" inquired the guests.
"A bottle of wine - ten gold pieces. A steak - ten gold pieces. A loaf of bread -ten gold pieces!" was the answer.
"This is far too expensive!" exclaimed the wanderers.
"Please tell me," argued Avraham, "what is the price of bread offered in the midst of a wilderness." Where else are you able to obtain wine or meat in this uncultivated region?"
"You are right!" they conceded. "Who was that Master whom you asked us to thank? Let us bless Him!"
Thus Avraham, by means of his hospitality and teachings, drew tens of thousands of people to Hashem"s service. His wife Sara was equally devoted to spreading the truth in the world by teaching the women.
As long as Sara was alive, the doors of the tent were always wide open. In her merit, the cloud of the shechima (Divine Light) rested above the tent, the candle she lit on Erev Shabbas was never extinguished, and the food in the household was blessed with abundance.
[Rabbi Moshe Weissman, The Midrash Says, The Book of Beraishit]
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Compiled by: www.Neshamaart.com