Parshas Vayera 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- 22 hours ago
- 2 min read
וירא אליו ה' באלוני ממרא והוא ישב פתח האהל ... (יח-א)
MASHAL: For many years, R’ Avraham Shmuel Binyamin Sofer zt”l, also known as Ksav Sofer, would go to the same vacation/health resort as Baron Rothschild. The Baron spent a lot of time enjoying the Ksav Sofer’s Torah that he delivered on different occasions, and their relationship flourished.
One year, the Baron cut his visit short. When asked by the Ksav Sofer why he wasn’t staying long, the Baron replied with a vort of his own: “Chazal (Bava Metzia 30b) tell us on the posuk,"והודעת להם את הדרך ילכו בה ואת המעשה אשר יעשון" - make known to them the way they are to go and the practices they are to follow, the word "ילכו" - “to go” refers to visiting the sick. This is because when you visit the sick, you have to recognize when you should get up and leave. Perhaps your visit is a burden for the ill person, or perhaps the ill person is embarrassed to be seen in this state. Therefore, the Torah says "ילכו" one must know when it is time to go ...”
With that, the Baron stood up and left. The Ksav Sofer often repeated this vort in the name of Baron Rothschild.
NIMSHAL: When Hashem appeared to Avraham Avinu in Ailonei Mamre, Rashi tells us that He came to visit the sick, the mitzvah of Bikur Cholim. This is one of the greatest acts of kindness a person can do (Peah1:1). It is interesting to note that the words “Bikur Cholim” have a deep meaning. Besides the simple meaning of visiting, which is the act of showing up and seeing the sick person’s condition and praying for his speedy recovery, the term “bikur” implies a critical examination of the needs of the sick patient. Whether something physical or just merely encouraging the patient and cheering him up, one cannot fathom what he might accomplish with his “bikur” of the “choleh.”