Nov 25, 2018

Raize Guttman 11-25-18 (17 Kislev 5779)

Parsha Vayeira - Chapter 21 – Verses 22 - 31
Brief discussion about Chanukah.

Avraham makes a covenant with Avimelech in Be'er Sheva. For this covenant Hashem made punishments that impacted future generations. The lesson in this for us is clear, we need to be careful of who we associate ourselves with. We need to make certain that anyone who wants to befriend us, that this person is not going to pull us down in anyway or take us away from our goal in this life. Chose the people you associate with, and only be with people who pull you up.

Nov 24, 2018

Raize Guttman 11-18-18 (10 Kislev 5779)

Parsha Vayeira - Chapter 21 – Verses 17 - 21


Hashem has such mercy and kindness on Yishmael even though he will be awful in the future. He judges him for where he is at now. We too should see how Hashem judges us for who we are now. Do not give up hope! Hashem can make anything happen.

Some people grow up and some really grow up to become a gadol.

Nov 11, 2018

Raize Guttman 11-11-18 (3 Kislev 5779)

Parsha Vayeira - Chapter 21 – Verses 15 - 19
Rosh Chodesh Kislev - Hashem Loves Me Stories

The water that Avraham sent them off with now was gone, as Yishmael was sick. Hagar starts crying to Hashem, but it is about herself, not her son. We learn here about the tefillah from the one who is sick. Davening for yourself is even greater than when other people are praying for you. It was not Hagar’s prayer that Hashem answered bc she was basically praying for herself and her own pain. She had contradictory feelings, even though she learned from Sarah, she still had the self centeredness being born Pharaoh's daughter.

An angel comes to tell her, that Hashem has heard the voice of the young boy b’asher hu sham, (from where he is now). Teaches us not to judge someone from their past or their future, but where they are right now.

Hagar is then shown a well of water, they are saved and Hashem proceeds to inform Hagar that Yishmael will live and grow into a huge nation. How did she not see the well that was right in front of her eyes? In this we see the famous prayer to Rav Benyamin if you lost an object. Everything is in the realm of the blind until Hashem enlightens a person’s eyes.

Miracles and nature are the same thing, the only difference is the frequency of them. Miracles happen infrequently and nature happens frequently. Everything is a fingerprint of Hashem, whether it is natural or a miraculous, it does not make a difference. It is up to us. Every one of us is blind, until Hashem enlightens us and opens up our eyes. We have to ask for this, pray for this, beg Hashem for it. Please Hashem open my eyes so I can see you.



Nov 4, 2018

Raize Guttman 11-04-18 (26 Cheshvan 5779)

Parsha Vayeira - Chapter 21 – Verses 13 - 14

Hashem is comforting Avraham, don’t worry, Yishmael too is your son and he too will become a great nation.

Yitzhak possessed the middot of gevurah to serve Hashem in all circumstances in all situations. Yitzhak could stand up to the evil inclination. Yitzhak needed to be strong, and whole in order to pass that strength onto us. Because without it the Jewish nation could not survive in this long and bitter exile. It was too dangerous to risk having Yishmael around who could have been a negative influence on Yitzhak and may harm him or kill him. We know he was already jealous from his birth of Yitzhak.

Avraham sends them off with bread and water.