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Why does Hashem (ה׳) need to justify giving nevuah to Avrohom with 'hamchasani m'Avrohom'? The Chasam Sofer's shocking answer: Avrohom had actually lost his spiritual level through constant kiruv work, but Hashem gave him nevuah anyway because he was doing God's work. This teaches that we must maintain relationships and help others even at the cost of personal spiritual growth.
Rabbi Zweig presents a powerful hashkafic teaching based on the Chasam Sofer's commentary in his introduction to Yoreh Deah responsa. The Chasam Sofer asks why Hashem (ה׳) needed to justify giving nevuah to Avrohom when He says 'hamchasani m'Avrohom' - nowhere else does Hashem justify bestowing prophecy. The Chasam Sofer's shocking answer is that Avrohom was no longer worthy of nevuah because he was so busy with kiruv, hachnasas orchim, and helping others that he wasn't maintaining the spiritual level required for prophecy. Hashem justifies giving him nevuah anyway because 'he's doing My work' - teaching derech Hashem, tzedakah, and mishpat to the world. Rabbi Zweig supports this with proof from Avrohom's relationship with Lot. After they separated in last week's parsha, Hashem resumed speaking to Avrohom, but while they were together, Hashem had stopped communicating with him. Yet Avrohom didn't abandon Lot on his own because he understood he was doing Hashem's work. As long as there was shalom between them, the name of Hashem (which is shalom) was present in their relationship. Only when machlokes arose did Avrohom separate from Lot.
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Parshas Vayeira 18:17
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Why does the Torah discuss marriage within war laws rather than giving it comprehensive treatment, and why limit the happiness mitzvah to one year? Marriage represents focused partnership within life's broader responsibilities, not life's ultimate goal. True happiness comes from empowering others to give—making your spouse happy by enabling their contributions, not by what you receive from them.
