Vayera תרל"ב
תרל”ב
ב”ה .
במדרש ואחר עורי נקפו זאת אחר שמלתי כו’ The Midrash (Bereishis Rabbah 48:b) Based on the pasuk (Iyov 19:26) “Even once my skin has been peeled off, I will Behold G-d from my flesh”. Avraham said, that only once he circumcised himself HaShem was able to appear to him. כי בכל דבר יש נקודה חיות מהשי”ת ורק שצריכין להסיר הקליפה והחיצוניות שנקרא ערלה דחפיא ברית For everything contains the life force of HaShem in it, however one first needs to remove the peel, and externalities, which is called “the foreskin that covers the bris”. (it is not mans ability or responsibility to create this new energy, it is preexisting, it is however our responsibility to remove the externalities that interfere with it being revealed in the world. ובהוסר הערלה ממילא מתגלה הנקודה כנ”ל. Once this “orla” foreskin is removed, then the point of life force of HaShem automatically becomes revealed. As above. וזה וירא אליו שנתגלה לו הפנימיות שהי’ בעצמותו נסתר ונכסה קודם המילה כמ”ש ומבשרי אחזה כו’. This is the meaning therefore of the word “And He appeared to him”. The internal point of HaShem that was already inside of him and was covered because of the orla (now became revealed to him), as the pasuk says “from my flesh I will see HaShem”. (This is the meaning of the word “Vayera” and He appeared. It was originly there, however only now that Avraham removed the foreskin did it become apparent.) גם פי’ וירא דכ’ וירא אלקים כו’ טוב על כל הנבראים. וראי’ זו קיימת לעד ונותנת קיום והעמדה למעשה בראשית A further explanation of the word “Vayera” is its connection to the word וירא אלקים “And HaShem saw that everything He created was good” (Bereishis 1:31). It is this “seeing” of HaShem that gives each and everything that HaShem created its energy and standing to everything from creation. והיא דבוקה ומיוחדת למי שיודע זאת שכל חיות העולמות מהשגחתו ית’ כמ”ש תמיד עיני ה’ אלקיך בה כו’: This is attached and unique to those that understand and realise that the entire existence of the worlds are only due to Hashem’s constant supervision over them. As it says “the ‘eyes’ of HaShem are constantly on it (Eretz Yisrael). (To merit connecting to this energy one needs to be aware and recognise it. Just as in Eretz Yisrael it says that HaShem constantly supervises it, even though He supervises the entire world, it is the however because Bnei Yisrael the residents of Eretz Yisrael realise His connection to the land, that they merit His revelation. So too it was due to Avraham’s searching and revealing the truth of HaShem in the world, that he meritted the revelation of HaShem. This is therefore the meaning of the word “Vayera”, HaShem appeared to Avraham because of his search for HaShem.
והוא יושב פתח האהל שצריך האדם לידע אף כי יש להקב”ה נחת רוח ממעשה בו”ד וכל העולמות תלוין בהתעוררות מעש”ט מהתחתונים שעי”ז מתגלה השגחתו ית’ עכ”ז הוא בפתח והיינו שהשי”ת עשה כן להיות נתלה דברים עליונים במעשה המצוה שע”י המעשה גשמיי נפתח המשכה במה שלמעלה ומשם יותר עד אליו ית’ ממש. אבל להאדם רק פתח כחודה של מחט. אף שהוא כחום היום והוא בחי’ אברהם אהבה שהוא ביטול באחדות גמור עכ”ז זכר כי הוא רק בו”ד בפתח האהל: “And he was sitting by the opening of the tent in the heat of the day” (Bereishis 18:1) One needs to know that even though HaShem gets pleasure from the good deeds of mankind, and even though the entire worlds are all dependent on the awakening of the good deeds of mankind, which cause the revelation of HaShem’s supervision of the world. However this is all “At the opening of the tent”, meaning that HaShem made the world in this way (of being dependent on mankind), so that through this physical action one can connect to something higher and from there eventually lead to HaShem Himself. However mankind’s actions are only the opening – as the opening of a needle head (“Open for me an opening of a needle head and I will open an opening of an entire hall). Even if the person is “in the heat of the day”, meaning that he is burning with love, just like Avraham the paradigm of love of Hashem, who completely nullified his existence for HaShem, nevertheless he (Avraham) remembered that he was only at the opening of the tent.
On these themes in Vayeira
- Removing the shell to reveal the inner pointתרל"ב · Essay 2
- Earning kedushah through one's own deedsתרל"ח · Essay 1
- Milah as the opening to wholenessתרל"ט · Essay 1
- The inner point opened by milahתר"מ · Essay 1
- Bris milah as permanent inner lightתרמ"ד · Essay 1
- Hidden light revealed through milahתרנ"א · Essay 1
See also across the library
Bris Milahברית מילה
- Milah refines desire to reveal the inner pointLech Lecha · תרס"ה · Essay 2
- Transcending Nature through CovenantVayeshev · תר"ס · Essay 2
- Avraham's emunah transcends nature; bris milahLech Lecha · תרנ"ג · Essay 2
- Avraham: pouring the soul's light into the bodyLech Lecha · תרס"ג · Essay 1
- Hidden inner core of land and brisKedoshim · תרס"ב · Essay 3
The Inner Pointנקודה פנימית
- Garments of skin and the inner lightTazria · תרס"א · Essay 2
- The tzaddik's holy desire for HashemBamidbar · תרנ"ו · Essay 2
- Shabbos as unclothed revelation of Hashem's NameKi Tisa · תרנ"ד · Essay 1
- Two doors: natural wisdom and Torah from HeavenLech Lecha · תרנ"ד · Essay 1
- Covenant Sealed In FleshPinchas · תרנ"ב · Essay 1
Avraham Avinuאברהם אבינו
Hashgachahהשגחה
- Divine Protection of the RighteousVayeshev · תרנ"ט · Essay 2
- Providence Above Nature For Yir'ei HashemLech Lecha · תרנ"ו · Essay 2
- Seeking the hidden Director of creationLech Lecha · תרנ"ב · Essay 1
- The three pillars of emunah past present futureLech Lecha · תרמ"ט · Essay 1
- Wholeness of a tzaddik's daysChayei Sarah · תרל"ז · Essay 1