This Shabbat we read from parshat Vayera. Our Torah portion begins Vayera eylav, Gd appeared to him (Abraham). At this moment in our Torah, Abraham is sitting outside his tent when he sees three mystical beings appear. Abraham rushes to welcome them- this is where we learn of the Jewish value of Hachnasat Orchim, Welcoming The Stranger. Abraham welcomes them and feeds them and then the mystical beings bless Abraham saying soon his wife Sarah will have a child. Sarah, well past her child-bearing years, overhears the conversation and laughs. She wonders how she could possibly have a child as an old woman? But soon after Sarah becomes pregnant and when her miracle child is born she names the boy Yitzchak, derived from the word tzchok, laughter. Here we see that doubt and skepticism can later become a blessing.
Every Torah portion is also connected to a Haftarah reading. Parshat Vayera's Haftarah reading comes from the book of Isaiah. This week's Haftarah portion is a beautiful passage where Gd promises to be with Isaiah and to protect him from any dangerous and terrifying obstacle he might encounter. In Isaiah 43:2 we read:
When you pass through water, I will be with you; Through streams, They shall not overwhelm you. When you walk through fire, You shall not be scorched; Through flame, It shall not burn you.
There is a song based on this passage. We will learn it tonight together and sing. Here are the lyrics: When you pass through waters, I am with you; yes I am with you. (repeat)
I won't let the rivers overwhelm you, I will be with you. (repeat)
כִּֽי־תַעֲבֹ֤ר בַּמַּ֙יִם֙ Ki ta’avor bamayim אִתְּךָ־אָ֔נִי, אִתְּךָ־אָ֔נִי Eitcha ani, Eitcha ani (repeat)
וּבַנְּהָר֖וֹת לֹ֣א יִשְׁטְפ֑וּךָ Uvan’harot lo yisht’fucha לֹ֣א יִשְׁטְפ֑וּךָ lo yisht’fucha (repeat)
I wish you a Shabbat of peace and comfort. A shabbat of feeling protected and safe. A shabbat of laughter and blessing.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Janine Jankovitz
Kehilat HaNahar 85 West Mechanic St. New Hope, PA 18938
