Vayeira

The Gemara states: because of Avraham Avinu’s chesed to the malachim, in return, Hashem performed chesed with Klal Yisrael. Hashem gave slav, mahn, and water… The Chofetz Chaim asks: Avraham Avinu gave some butter and milk and tongue one time, if so, why did Hashem give food for 600,000 people throughout 40 years in the Midbar?

I thought to suggest that Avraham performed unusual kindness. Despite having a bris milah at the age of 99 he invested all his strength to do chesed, so much that Hashem needed to take the sun out and shine even brighter than usual to prevent people from walking outside. This mesirus nefesh was of exceptional eichus, which merited his descendants unlimited reward.

The Chofetz Chaim writes that Avraham did not just do chesed only once, but rather he did chesed his whole life. He invited guests and opened an inn for everyone to come in. Avos d’Rabi Nosson adds, Avraham would sit and search for guests; when he found them, he would bring them into his house. People who generally ate bread of barley, were given bread made from wheat, higher quality bread. The same was true with other foods. Avraham gave them better foods than what they were used to. He built big houses on the side of the road and left food and drink in them. All those who came in benched Hashem.

The passuk states, “ויטע אשל…ויקרא שם בשם ה’ ק-ל עולם.” Rashi writes that the words “ויטע אשל” hint that Avraham planted an orchard to give guests from its fruit. Or, it hints at an inn for guests, where there were many types of fruit, and it was lodging for guests. The Chofetz Chaim points out that the roshei teivos of אשל stand for אכילה שתיה לויה. He relates a story with a host who had guests and his house burnt down. A gadol hador said it was because he gave the guests food and drink, but he did not accompany the guests out. This left “אש” from אשל. The Rambam writes that the reward for accompanying someone is even greater than hachnasas orchim, bikur cholim, and nichum aveilim.

May Hashem help us learn from Avraham Avinu’s chesed to become better ba’alei chesed!