The founder and rosh yeshiva of ITRI (Israel Torah Research Institute), Rav Mordechai Elefant, was a unique talmid chacham and builder of Torah. A scholar and genius of epic proportions—graced with extraordinary people skills and fundraising abilities—Rav Elefant was a colorful personality with a good sense of humor to match. Respected by gedolei hador, Rav Elefant was authentic, honest and also—in the best sense—eccentric. During his final illness before passing away in 2009, he shared his experiences and reflections, opinion and “candid memories” in an unpublished memoir with his long-time, devoted student, Rav Pini Dunner—the senior rabbi of Beverly Hills Synagogue—who was in his own right an accomplished, creative scholar and noted author.

He recalled the following “formative” interaction with his great rebbe, Rav Leib Malin, zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Beis Hatalmud and famed “lion of Mir.” At the time, Beis Hatalmud was located in a “ramshackle shul on Jerome Street in East New York,” operating on a shoestring budget …

“I walked in one morning and saw Rav Leib, himself, repairing a toilet. He noticed the look on my face and realized that I thought that what he was doing was not in keeping with his dignity. He sat me down and told me the secret of life. He said, ‘Let me tell you something I heard in the name of Rav Simcha Zissel of Kelm: “God keeps very exact accounts of what we take from this world. We don’t get anything for free, other than life itself. Any person who is the least bit honest with himself understands how unworthy he is. At the same time, he’s running up a big debt. Nothing is free—not a sip of water, not a breath of air. How do we stand a chance?”

“There’s only one way. You have to view life as a big, luxury hotel. They’re charging you left and right … It’s great, but there’s going to be a huge bill when you check out. There’s only one guy who enjoys the delights of the hotel without paying … That’s the waiter.”

“The waiter is devoted to serving others. He’s always smiling and ready to help. He is at the beck and call of the guests. He runs to help one, and then runs to help the other. But when he takes a break, he can go into the kitchen and make himself a sandwich with two thick steaks in it. Nobody looks, nobody cares, nobody charges him.”

“That’s what you have to do: be a waiter, devote your life to serving others. Do whatever has to be done then at the end you won’t be hit with a big tab!’”

~

וְאֶל־הַבָּקָר רָץ אַבְרָהָם וַיִּקַּח בֶּן־בָּקָר רַךְ וָטוֹב …

וַיִּקַּח חֶמְאָה וְחָלָב וּבֶן־הַבָּקָר אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה וַיִּתֵּן לִפְנֵיהֶם וְהוּא־עֹמֵד עֲלֵיהֶם תַּחַת הָעֵץ וַיֹּאכֵלוּ׃

“Then Araham ran to the herd, took a calf, tender and choice … He took cream and milk and the calf that had been prepared and placed these before them; and he was standing over them under the tree, and they ate.” (18:7-8)

Our sedra introduces us to the original Jewish home—the open tent of Avraham Avinu and Sarah Imeinu. The Torah gives a deliberate, detailed description of the incredible efforts our grandparents made in service of three dusty Arab travelers—idolaters who arrived at the crossroads. With alacrity and dedication, Avraham and Sarah personally provided for their every need. Such is our model of being in service of others.

Rebbe Moshe Chaim Ephraim—grandson of the Baal Shem Tov and author of the “Degel Machaneh Ephraim,” zt”l—expands on the holy service of hachnasas orchim even further. והוא עומד עליהם—“And he, Avraham, stood ‘above them,’”—this means being in service of others propels us to a spiritual level that is “above” that of the angels.

Rav Shabsai Yogel, zt”l, was a student of both Volozhin and Navardok, and served as the rosh yeshiva of Slonim. Rav Shabsai survived the war and settled in Ramat Gan, where he rebuilt the yeshivah and was a member of the Moetzes Gedolei Torah of Agudas Yisroel. He once shared the following insight:

“Shimon haTzadik taught: על שלשה דברים העולם עומד, על התורה ועל העבודה ועל גמילות חסדים—‘The world stands on three things, Torah, divine service and acts of kindness,’ (Pirkei Avos, 1:2). The first two world-supporting pillars in this teaching are listed with the hei hayediah—the “definite article,” indicated by the letter hei at the beginning, ‘haTorah’—literally, “the Torah,” and ‘ha-avodah’—“the avodah.” The third pillar, gemilus chasadim, is mentioned without a hei hayediah.”

Chazal saw—with ruach hakodesh—that a time would come in history when Jews would debate the nature of Torah and divine service; the winds of change can alter the way some interpret our holy Torah and what it means to serve God. Therefore, the mishna states with clarity, and grammatical precision, that “Torah” refers specifically to “the Torah”—our exclusive covenantal relationship through revelation—Torah min haShamayim. And avodah refers specifically to “the avodah,” the forms of personal connection and authentic service of Hashem revealed by our sages.

Rav Yogel explained that gemilus chasadim—the third sustaining pillar of the world—is different. Universal in nature, chesed is without the specific distinctions implied by the word “ha—the.” In other words, there are no limits and restrictions in chesed. Every human being is deserving of kindness, and everyone has their own God-given skills, abilities and path of gemilus chasadim to engage. There are innumerable unique ways in which true, effective chesed can be offered. This, we learn from the “pillars of faith” themselves, Avraham and Sarah, and their inimitable, not-for-profit Michelin-star restaurant, where guests were served up a relationship with the Creator, alongside a thick tongue-with-mustard sandwich.

Parshas Vayeira presents us the opportunity to roll up our sleeves and rededicate ourselves to the service of others. As Hashem’s “waiters,” may we be lifted to heights above the angels—and enjoy the best of this world, as well.

Rav Judah Mischel is executive director of Camp HASC, the Hebrew Academy for Special Children. He is the mashpiah of OU-NCSY, founder of Tzama Nafshi and the author of “Baderech: Along the Path of Teshuva.” Rav Judah lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh with his wife Ora and their family.