Simcha's Torah Stories - Vayera

Become a Supporter Library Library
Simcha's Torah Stories ©

Parshas Vayera

DON'T MIND THE ACHES AND PAINS

Shalom, Avi! How are you? You look like you're on your way to the pool.

Right you are Chaim. I'm just trying to stay cool in this hot weather. It must be 90 degrees outside today.

I'm very hot, too, Avi. I am so glad that I met you. I am on my way to do a big mitzvah.

Great Chaim! What is it?

Mr. Goodman, the elderly man who lives next-door to me, is moving tomorrow. He is too old to live by himself, so he is moving near his daughter. He still has some packing left to do. There are books, clothes, and some dishes. I am trying to get some friends to come and help him put these things into boxes. What do you say, Avi?

Boy, it sure is hot today, Chaim. I am so tired. I could not sleep last night because of the heat. I think a nice relaxing day at the pool would suit me just fine.

Avi, if you think it is hot today, let me tell you about another very hot day a long, long time ago. Just imagine that you are Avraham Avinu, our father Abraham, sitting in his tent in a place called Mamre ...

It is very hot here today. I feel very weak. Only three days ago, I had my bris mila. I am in pain. I am 99 years old, not a young man anymore. But nothing pains me as much as the fact that no guests are coming to visit me today. I want very badly to do the mitzvah of entertaining guests in my home. Eliezer, will you please be so kind and go out to see if any travelers are coming our way?

A short time later, Eliezer returns without any guests.

Perhaps Eliezer did not look carefully enough. I will go out and look myself. I don't see any guests. Wait a minute! I see three men coming! Weary travelers, please come this way. Stop here for a little refreshment. Please, my honored guests, take a little water. I will get some bread for you.

Now that I am doing a mitzvah, I forgot all about my aches and pains and the hot weather. I must run to serve them the finest food and drink.

Sarah, my dear wife, may I trouble you to please bake fresh bread for our guests? I am going to prepare for them the choicest meat delicacy. I want to give them a sumptuous meal, fit for a king.

Chaim, you have such a nice way of pointing me in the right direction. I have a mitzvah to do! I feel cooler already.


Simcha's Quiz

Sara helped her mom put the socks away yesterday. She put them in the drawer, but did not pair them up. Sara's father had six black socks, four blue socks, and eight white socks. He got up early the next day to study Torah. He did not want to put the light on and wake up Sara's mom. He needed two socks that matched, but he could not see anything in the drawer. What is the smallest number of socks that he had to pull out of the drawer to get a matching pair?

Write Simcha with your answer to simcha_b@mail.netvision.net.il


Simcha's Torah Stories Archives
Ohr Somayach's Youth Page r

Simcha's Torah Stories is © 1998 by Simcha Groffman All rights reserved to the author
Written by Simcha Groffman
Editor: Reuven Subar
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
Layout Design: Michael Treblow
HTML: Eli Ballon
This publication is available via E-Mail and in the following formats: [Text] [Word] Explanation of these symbols
Vj_bar.gif (1798 bytes)
Copyright © 1998 Ohr Somayach International. Send us Feedback.
Ohr Somayach International is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation (letter on file) EIN 13-3503155 and your donation is tax deductable.