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GENESIS | 22:1 words — GEN1126 A man should take heed that when he makes...

GEN1126 A man should take heed that when he makes a banquet at the occasion of the performance of a mitzvah—such as a circumcision or betrothal or wedding or Bar-Mitzvah—that he include among his invited guests the poor and the destitute, and that he take care to speak pleasantly to them. For if one makes such a party for his son or daughter and fails to invite the poor, then the wicked Lilith and Samael raise accusations against him and they bring pain and other evil times upon him.  That is what the Midrash teaches us concerning the banquet prepared b our father Abram.  The story of the Akedah [the binding of Isaac by Abraham as a sacrifice] is introduced with the words, “after these devarim” [this verse]. Usually devarim means “things”; but it can also mean “words.”   Here, the Midrash says, it refers to the words of accusation spoken by Satan against Abraham about the “great feast” he had made at the time Isaac was weaned Genesis 21:8.  To this feast Abraham had invited all the great men of his generation—but no poor men were included.  Satan’s charges against Abraham were accepted, and the Holy One said to Abraham, “Take your son, our only son, your beloved, even Isaac … and offer him up as a burnt offering” Genesis 22:2.  It was as a result of this episode that Sarah died as the Torah gores onto relate.   We find the same thing concerning Job.   He made a banquet for his sons, but neglected to invite poor people.  As a result Satan kept accusing Job before God, until he caused the death of Job’s sons and daughters and took away from him his wealth and his cattle.   He did not rest until he brought upon him great personal suffering.  Therefore, let everyone who makes a feast remember to invite the poor, so that the accuser [Satan] may no longer accuse.   To the contrary, as we are told in Midrash Tanhuma, when a man does invite the poor to participate in his feast, then his accusers become his defenders.   GOODSOC 178-9

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