(Genesis 18:1-22:24)
Rabbi Y. Benyowitz
The angels, though, have other purposeful missions with their visit. The Talmud (Baba Metziah 88B) tells us that they came to tell Sarah that she will be having a child, to turn over the wicked city of Sodom, and to heal Avrohom from the circumcision. Rashi (18:2) points out, (from the Midrash and mentioned in Tosafot Baba Metziah ibid) that it is for this reason three angels were sent since an angel cannot perform two tasks.
Rashi addresses the issue of one more job that was completed, saving Lot. Avrohom Avinu’s nephew Lot had to be evacuated from the city of Sodom before it is overturned. Rashi explains that this was performed by the same angel who healed Avrohom; both jobs, saving and healing, are in essence the same type of job. The Talmud itself appears to answer this question differently by saying that the angel who notified Sarah that she will be having a child is the one who was dispatched to save Lot.
Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky in his book Emes L’Yaakov explains that the Talmud is also of the opinion that when the jobs are similar they can be performed by the same angel. Saving Lot was directly related to saving the Jewish Nation since Ruth, the mother of the Davidic Dynasty, was to ultimately come from his progeny. Telling Sarah that she will have a baby also pertains to the continuity of the Jewish Nation. This is so even though we are only speaking about notifying her about the child which she will bear.
The announcement that the Choton and Kallah (Groom and Bride) are engaged carries with it all of the potential of all their future generations. This potential is even more poignant in the wedding ceremony itself.
Our Choton and Kallah are charged with the awesome responsibility to realize all of that hidden potential, not only for themselves and their families, but also for all of the Jewish Nation.
Copyright 2000 Rabbi Yirmiyahu Benyowitz and MyJewishWedding.com
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