05 Nov Get Ready for the Angels

As we arrive at this week’s Torah portion, Vayera, we are introduced to angels. Get ready for all sorts of divine messengers who will interact with human beings in a variety of ways. They will heal Abraham after his circumcision and bring good tidings to Sarah that she will soon give birth. They will save Lot from the destruction of Sodom and keep Abraham from killing his beloved son, Isaac.

They will protect Jacob when he leaves and returns to the Promised Land and they will continue to watch over his grandchildren. They will help lead the Israelites around the desert for forty years and guard over the Ark of the Covenant. They will appear to Joshua and instruct Samson’s parents how to raise their yet unborn child. They will show Ezekiel who is good and who is evil and they will reveal to Daniel what will happen in the future.

To help you get you in the mood and begin thinking about how to possibly understand these celestial beings, take a look at two of my favorite angel movies: Nicholas Cage portraying Seth in City of Angels and John Travolta playing the archangel in Michael.
And spend a few minutes enjoying Moshav’s lovely song Malachim that tells of a conversation between a father and son about this subject.

Are their room for angels in your life or in your beliefs? Stay tuned for more on this topic!

Midrash Rabbah, Amsterdam, 1719, Lisa and William Gross Collection, Tel Aviv