Page 29 - HaMizrachi Australia Sukkot 5781

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Ushpizi

avraham

Eyes to See

Rabbi Judah Mischel

yes are the windows to the of others in such a moment, Avraham to teach Torah – but had difficulty con-
soul. “G-d appeared to Avra- Avinu proved he was ready to transmit trolling his temper. Looking around
ham Avinu… he lifted his eyes the values of chesed and generosity to the decrepit cheder, he appreciated the
Eand saw, and behold, three his descendants. sacrifice being made for Torah study.
men were standing beside him, and When the children fought, he saw their
he saw and he ran toward them… he Orphaned from his parents as a young passion and energy, and he focused on
prostrated himself to the ground and child, the Baal Shem Tov was drawn their potential.
said: ‘Adonai, My masters, if only I have to the outdoors, where alone with
found favor in your eyes, please do not Hashem, he found comfort and peace The tradition passed on among the
pass on from beside your servant’” in the forest. Baal Shem Tov’s students is that Reb
(Bereishit 18:1–3). Once, little Yisrael ran away to the Yisrael’s mysterious encounter in the
woods because he could not bear the forest that day was with Avraham
After having circumcised himself as
a man of 100 years old, on the third cheder anymore. The dingy hovel was Avinu. From then on, he had einayim
and most painful day post-op, Avra- filthy, and the moody melamed was lirot, “eyes to see,” and that transfor-
ham Avinu had every reason to be always screaming. The children were mative experience led him to embark
resting and recuperating. Yet in his always fighting. His father, Rebbe on his life’s mission to restore dignity,
yearning for the opportunity to serve Eliezer’s parting words to “love every honor and self-respect to a forlorn
others, he waited outside his tent at Jew with all your heart and soul, no nation.
the crossroads scanning the horizon matter who he is,” rang in his ears. He One need not stand outside a tent
for potential guests to whom he could desperately wanted to love everyone awaiting passers-by or experience a
offer respite, food and drink. but was struggling. When he came to
the forest, Yisrael davened and cried mystical revelation to attain “eyes to
Avraham calls the travelers by an for salvation. A little boy, alone in the see.” When we look to the essence of
honorific, “Adonai.” Rashi, at first, world... another, sweep off the layer of dust
gives us the simple interpretation: and look past the outer facade to
Avraham was showing the travelers An elderly man suddenly appeared reveal beauty and G-dliness in every
deep respect. However, Rashi’s second and called the child by name. “Yis- person we meet – we are seeing with
interpretation is that the appellation rael,” he said, “I have come to give soulful eyes and living the path of
is the Holy Name of Hashem! In the you a blessing.” “What do you mean?” Avraham Avinu.
midst of prayer, deep in d’veykut, Avra- asked the startled Yisrael, “Who are
ham did not interrupt his davening. you?” The old man only said, “May you  Adapted from Rabbi Mischel’s new book,
Noticing and calling out to the needy have einayim lirot, eyes to see.” Yisrael ‘Baderech: Along the Path of Teshuvah’
travelers was a natural expression of wanted to find out who he was and (Mosaica Press, 2021).
his connectedness to Hashem – and he what he meant, but the elderly Yid had
called G-d’s name through them. disappeared.
When Avraham “lifted his eyes” and Later that day, Yisrael made his way
noticed them approaching, he saw back to cheder. He was greeted by his
beyond their exterior, beneath the teacher’s shouts, livid that Yisrael
dust of the road and that of their idol- had cut school. Now, however, things
atrous ways and recognized the Divine looked different: The teacher was still Rabbi Judah Mischel and his wife, Ora, live
image within his guests. Avraham was screaming, but Yisrael looked at him in Ramat Beit Shemesh with their family. A member of
not interrupting his Avodat Hashem in with rachmanut – mercy – seeing an He is the Executive Director of Camp HASC, the Mizrachi
running to serve them – he was con- older man with unfulfilled dreams, Mashpia of OU-NCSY, and founder of Tzama Speakers Bureau
tinuing it and expanding it. Directing suffering from poverty. He saw a Yid Nafshi, an organization dedicated to Jewish mizrachi.org/
his efforts and attention to the needs who had good intentions and wanted education. speakers

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