Parshat Vayera
17 Cheshvan 5762
November 3, 2001
Daf Yomi: Baba Kama 99

Guest Rabbi:
Rabbi Pesach Lerner
Executive Vice Preside
National Council of Young Israel

"And HaShem said, should I hide from Avraham that which I intend to do?"

Rashi explains that the words "that which I intend to do" refer to S'dom. "I have given to Avraham this land and these five cities are his. I have called him Avraham - ohhud iunv ct - the Father of Many Nations. Shall I destroy his children and not tell their 'father'."

How could it be that Avraham did not know about the spiritual pollution being generated from S'dom and the surrounding communities? Avraham was the "Father of Many Nations"; not only in the sense that his sons - Yitzchak and Yishmael - were the founders of the Jewish and Arab worlds but, specifically, because Avraham was the spiritual leader and teacher of the world at that time. Avraham had "discovered" G-d, the Al-Mighty came to visit him, angels were forever guests in his home; didn't Avraham "see" the evil actions of S'dom?

Where do we find that the Al-Mighty, so to speak, "contemplates" hiding- or not hiding- from one of His Prophets what He is going to do. If the Prophet was "worthy" of such knowledge he would receive it; if not he would not receive it.

The Chasam Sofer, in his introduction to his responsa on Shulchan Aruch Yorah, suggests that if a Prophet is worthy of the information that an event will take place or justice will be meted out, the Al-Mighty will not hide such information from him. However, Avraham Avinu had not reached that level of prophecy.

Avraham did not have the time to direct his thoughts in order to advance the many levels of prophecy; he was too busy teaching his students and the world at large, about G-d. Avraham was active with the common man, informing and educating the masses about the Al-Mighty. Had his students been advanced in their studies, Avraham, as well, would have progressed and grown in his studies. However, his students were at the most basic level, so Avraham did not have the time and the opportunity to personally reach the spiritual heights needed to "sense" what was going on around him.

Regardless, the Al-Mighty, Who knows what is hidden deep in our hearts, knew Avraham, His servant. Although Avraham had not yet reached the heights he could- and perhaps should- have, it was not his fault. His lack was only because Avraham spent his time doing G-d's will, teaching his generation about the One, Just G-d.

Therefore, the Torah first says, "Can I hide from Avraham that which I intend to do?" and then continues (pasuk 19 "Because I know that he will command his children and his household [his sphere of influence] after him, and they shall keep the path of the Al-Mighty, to do justice and judgement..."

Avraham was active on behalf of HaShem; HaShem revealed to Avraham that which was necessary for him to know. And, as pasuk 23-32 informs us, Avraham, the spiritual father of the world, immediately prayed to the Al-Mighty, "perhaps there are still some righteous people in these cities for whom the communities will merit being saved".

It is most interesting to note how the Chasam Sofer relates the events of Avraham to our daily activities. Why should we, servants of G-d with an obligation to further our Torah studies so that we can reach great heights and grow closer to the Al-Mighty, sacrifice our growth to assist and teach other Jews? To this the Chasam Sofer asks if we think it is beyond the Al-Mighty's capabilities to compensate that which we may have lost while our time was spent for His glory. We must do what we have been commanded to do, to teach Torah to all Jews, and then HaShem will enable us, in the time we have left for ourselves, to accomplish more than we thought possible.

On numerous occasions, I heard from my Rosh HaYeshiva Rav Yaakov Ruderman, ZT"L, of Yeshivas Ner Yisroel in Baltimore, MD, that in the Yeshiva in Slobodka (in Europe) there were numerous individuals who would spend much of their day learning with younger students and answering the questions of less experienced boys. The nights they would spend learning for themselves. These individuals included Rav Ruderman, zt"l, and Rav Yaakov Kaminetsky, zt"l, both of whom became Torah leaders of their generation.