Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

At the outset of Parshat Vayera, God appears to Abraham. In the following verse, Abraham sees three men at his tent. Throughout this narrative, they are regarded as three men.

In the Midrash, it is taught that they were angels. Each had a particular mission - to tell Abraham and Sarah good news, to give warning about Sodom, and to rescue Lot.

Interestingly, in the following narrative about Sodom, the Biblical text refers to the two who have missions to accomplish as angels and not as men. Commentaries offer different insights as to why they are called men with Abraham and angels regarding Sodom and Lot.

Regardless of the commentaries, we have people being called and behaving as angels. I believe that whenever a person is helping another, without expectation of reward, and especially anonymously, one is behaving as an angel, which literally means a messenger (of God).

When we introduce Shabbat at our tables, many of us sing Shalom Aleichem, a poetic song, which begins, "Peace be unto you, O ministering angels, Messengers of the Most High."

May each of us have the merit of being known as an angel by those dear to us.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Howard Morrison