Rabbi, Please Book My Ticket

In parshat Vayeira Avraham is recovering a heroic feat. By circumcising himself at the age of ninety-nine, our forefather did something exceedingly brave, courageous, and holy. Avraham went under the knife and received a brit milah. This resulted in a Divine Revelation where Hashem appeared before Avraham as the pasuk says, “Vayeira eilav Hashem - Hashem appeared to him.”

Why doesn’t the pasuk doesn’t say who Hashem appears in front of! Why the anonymity? Why the ambiguity? One would think that the pasuk may have said, “Vayeira Hashem el Avraham,” that Hashem appeared to Avraham. Shouldn’t the Torah specify who Hashem appeared to? Doesn’t Avraham deserve the credit? Our father did something so valiant by putting himself under the knife! Doesn’t he deserve the accolades and tribute?

My father, Rav Yitzchok Fingerer shlita, powerfully responds to this query. Rav Mottel of Chornobyl says that the pasuk says Vayeira eilav - that Hashem appeared to him because "him" can be anybody. The pasuk intentionally leaves it ambiguous because him could be you! It’s a fill-in-the-blank!

 Rav Mottel says that if you do something for Hashem - if you extend yourself and go above and beyond, then Hashem will appear in a sense to you!  If you are willing to go outside of your comfort zone and you work on yourself then vayeira eilav – Hashem will appear to you and do wonders on your behalf because each of us are that unique and special to our Father in heaven! You are that him! What an amazing thing!

An unbelievable story is told of a Yid from Brooklyn, a young man who was totally secular. He came to our shul, BJX, to explore his roots and his soul thirsted for Yiddishkeit. Within time, his mind opened, and his horizons expanded, he wanted more. He wanted Yiddishkeit, but was torn. For five years he's been dating a non-Jewish girl who he said was flawless. It was a huge nisayon for as he was struggling. My father suggested that he should go to yeshivah in Eretz Yisrael for a bit, and The young man agreed. Later that week, my father was about to book his ticket, but he needed some details. My father tries repeatedly reaching the man to no avail. The next day, my father gave another attempt to reach his student, but the call went straight to voicemail. Days went by and my father Still had no luck.

Finally, almost a week later the young man called my father. “Where were you? Is everything ok?” My father asked. “Rabbi, I had to make the decision of a lifetime. I really didn’t know what to do with my life, so I went to the Poconos to meditate and get clarity. I sat there, and I davened praying directly to Hashem. I brought with me a Tanach and decided that I was going to open it randomly, for Hashem’s guidance.” He continued, “Rabbi, you won’t believe what happened. I opened the Tanach, and it landed exactly in Sefer Ezra, perek tes, where there is a discussion about the Jewish people returning to Eretz Yisrael, and giving up their non-Jewish woman.” With tears in his eyes, he said to my father, “Rabbi, please book my flight. I'm going to Israel!”

This was a revealed, open miracle that he merited by being moser nefesh - sacrificing for Hashem, and when one sacrifices for the Almighty, our Creator does wonders on their behalf. Hashem can do anything. Hashem can help us with whatever we may need. When we face our own personal crises or nisayonos we must try to persevere and stay strong. We must keep fighting and with Hashem’s help we too will see miracles!

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