A Thought on Parshas Vayeira

"...va'ekcha pas lechem..." "...I will now take bread..." (18:5) Some years ago, I had the merit to host HaGaon Rav Reuven Feinstein shlit'a in my home for Shabbos. He became the Rosh Yeshiva in the Staten Island branch of Mesivta Tiferes Yerushalayim, founded by his great father, the gadol ha'dor Rav Moshe Feinstein z'l. I had studied there for a number of years in Beis Medrash, and earned one of my smichos there. It was our honor decades later to have him stay with us in Los Angeles. My wife prepared Shalosh Seudos and I sat him at the head of the table and asked if he would be motzei us all in the bracha of Ha'motzae. He deferred to me and said I was the host and head of the house. "Plus," he added, "don't say B'reshus before the bracha. Who do you need to ask permission from in your own house?" Now imagine this scene. Avraham Avinu, the gadol ha'dor and the ranking "high priest" (Kohen Gadol) of the entire world, is sitting at his table in his tent as three guests appear. Regardless of which commentary you prefer as to who they actually were, what they looked like, and whether it was a dream, a vision or an actual encounter, we are told by the Torah that our patriarch Avraham invited these men to his table and had a meal prepared and served for them. Our verse says that Avraham readied the guests for the meal with the statement "now I will take the bread." What are we to understand from that verse? Rabbeinu Avigdor writes that even though the meal was prepared by others - earlier verses are clear that Avraham instructed his household and family to bring the food and drink - when it came to beginning the meal through breaking bread, Avraham speaks in the first person. "I will now take the bread" he declares. He infers a halacha from here (which although found in the Talmud (Brochos 46a) is not codified by all authorities) that the host or head of the house, not the guests, should say the blessing over the bread. It is not an honor to give away to guests, unlike leading the bentching which halacha regards as an honor to bestow on a guest. Rabbeinu Avigdor then addresses verse 8 which tells us that Avraham stood over the guests as they ate, which the Talmud (Kiddushin 32b) views as his having waited on those guests, actually bestowing honor onto them by serving them. How does this fit in with the message of our verse, which teaches us that the host should be taking the mealtime honor for himself? Rabbeinu Avigdor explains that this teaches us that there are two elements to the halacha. The reciting of the blessing is the domain of the host in his own home. He does not ask permission from his guests, for it is his role and his rightful honor to lead them all in praising HaShem for giving him sustenance which he can share with others. However, when one has guests or company, he has to see to it that they are well provided for during the meal. This is when he shows honor and respect to them, whether he is the head of the house, the host, or even the gadol ha'dor. The host leads the meal, first by exemplifying to all the spiritual aspect of the mitzvah (bein adam l'Makom) by praising HaShem, then by exemplifying the interpersonal aspect of the mitzvah (bein adam l'chaveiro) by taking care of others. Good Shabbos. D Fox