Midrash מִדְרָשׁ
Whom do we thank for the goodness in our lives?
וַיִּטַּ֥ע אֶ֖שֶׁל בִּבְאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע וַיִּ֨קְרָא־שָׁ֔ם בְּשֵׁ֥ם יהוה אֵ֥ל עוֹלָֽם׃
Avraham planted an eshel tree in Beer Sheva, and called out there in the name of God Everlasting.
Reish Lakish suggests a play on words. The word וַיִּקְרָא (vayikra) means that Avraham “called out.” But if you change the vowels, it could be וַיַּקְרִיא (vayakri), which means that he “caused others to call out.”
מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהִקְרִיא אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ לִשְׁמוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּפֶה כׇּל עוֹבֵר וָשָׁב. כֵּיצַד? לְאַחַר שֶׁאָכְלוּ וְשָׁתוּ, עָמְדוּ לְבָרְכוֹ. אָמַר לָהֶם: וְכִי מִשֶּׁלִּי אֲכַלְתֶּם? מִשֶּׁל אֱלֹקֵי עוֹלָם אֲכַלְתֶּם! הוֹדוּ וְשַׁבְּחוּ וּבָרְכוּ לְמִי שֶׁאָמַר וְהָיָה הָעוֹלָם.
This teaches that Avraham our ancestor caused the name of the Holy Blessed One to be called out by everyone who passed by. How? After his guests ate and drank, they would get up to bless Avraham. He would say to them: Did you really eat from what is mine? It was all from God! Give thanks and praise and blessing to the One Who spoke and created the world.
- What can we learn from Avraham’s actions?
- What’s the lesson about taking credit for good things you do? What’s the lesson about giving thanks for good things you enjoy?
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