The Snake and the King
A lesson from the Tiferes Shlomo Parshas Vayeira
וירא אליו ה‘... והוא יושב פתח האוהל
And Hashem appeared to him… and he was sitting at the opening of the tent.
And Hashem appeared to him… and he was sitting at the opening of the tent.
On this verse, Rashi teaches that Hashem came to visit Avraham to “enquire after his welfare”.
Our sages teach that when saying the Amidah, even if a snake is coiled on one’s ankle and even if the king enquires after one’s welfare, they may not stop their prayer.
On a deeper level, the two cases discussed in the Gemara allude to two different categories of people; the Rasha (wicked) who is enveloped by the serpent of Gan Eden and the Tzaddik (righteous) who is worthy that the King - Hashem Himself appears to him and seeks out his welfare. The lesson for each one is the same. No matter which state you find your self in, do not stop your service of Hashem.
When the Rasha realises how low they have fallen and how their sins have upset Hashem, they may give up hope of ever being able to return with Teshuvah. The Tiferes Shlomo writes that sin of this mistaken belief is even greater than any sin they may have committed. Hashem desires their Teshuvah and so they should never stop trying.
The Tzaddik has the opposite concern. Having reached great spiritual heights and accomplishments, they may become complacent, feeling that they no longer need to apply themselves with the same strength as before. Our sages teach that they too must not stop striving in their Divine service.
The verse teaches us that Avraham had reached the rank of a Tzaddik as shown by Hashem - the King - coming to enquire after his welfare. Yet Avraham remained at the opening of the tent. With great humility, he saw himself as spiritually lacking, like a pauper standing at the door. He did not become haughty or satisfied with his spiritual accomplishments.
Our sages teach that when saying the Amidah, even if a snake is coiled on one’s ankle and even if the king enquires after one’s welfare, they may not stop their prayer.
On a deeper level, the two cases discussed in the Gemara allude to two different categories of people; the Rasha (wicked) who is enveloped by the serpent of Gan Eden and the Tzaddik (righteous) who is worthy that the King - Hashem Himself appears to him and seeks out his welfare. The lesson for each one is the same. No matter which state you find your self in, do not stop your service of Hashem.
When the Rasha realises how low they have fallen and how their sins have upset Hashem, they may give up hope of ever being able to return with Teshuvah. The Tiferes Shlomo writes that sin of this mistaken belief is even greater than any sin they may have committed. Hashem desires their Teshuvah and so they should never stop trying.
The Tzaddik has the opposite concern. Having reached great spiritual heights and accomplishments, they may become complacent, feeling that they no longer need to apply themselves with the same strength as before. Our sages teach that they too must not stop striving in their Divine service.
The verse teaches us that Avraham had reached the rank of a Tzaddik as shown by Hashem - the King - coming to enquire after his welfare. Yet Avraham remained at the opening of the tent. With great humility, he saw himself as spiritually lacking, like a pauper standing at the door. He did not become haughty or satisfied with his spiritual accomplishments.