The Daily Chizzuk by our Rebbe Rav Eliezer Berland shlit”a — How Abba Umana merited to receive greetings from Heaven every day
Wednesday, 20 Elul 5783 — The Tzaddik sacrifices his soul for the sanctification of Hashem’s Name every minute, every second
These are his holy words:
Abba Umana would receive greetings every day (Taanit 21b), even though he was a bloodletter, even though he had a doctor’s office. And why did Abba Umana have the merit? Because he was a reincarnation of Mamrei (according to Gilgul Neshamot of the Rama MiPano); and behold, Mamrei was the most faithful follower of Avraham.
Mamrei circumcised himself after Aner and Eshkol, who were circumcised before him, already had died. They died because they did it because of social pressure. Really they were against circumcision. They said to Avraham, “Don’t do circumcision. It’s not a good idea for you [to do it]. Do it secretly, hide. Do it in Egypt. Do it in Jordan. Why here? Become circumcised on some hill, on some mountain so that no one will see you. Why should you do it publicly? Everyone will come and fight a war with us.”
Aner and Eshkol really were against circumcision, so they died. However, Mamrei who said, “Now circumcise me,” in spite of the two who had already died before him, because this is tremendous self-sacrifice. Already two died — who said that you will live? This is already mortal danger. However, Mamrei said, “No. Under no circumstances. Circumcise me now!” And therefore, Abba Umana, who is a reincarnation of Mamrei, received a Heavenly voice from Heaven every day.
Mamrei is the numerical value of Reish-Peh-Alef = 281, [as in], “VeRapo Yerapei — You shall certainly heal” (Shemot 21:19), and Abba Umana was also a doctor (rofeh) and received greetings every day.
Abaye could not understand how he only received greetings Erev Shabbat. After this came Rava, who received greetings only on Erev Yom Kippur. And moreover it is known that the law is according to Rava, for Rava is a reincarnation of Lot, a spark from [the soul of] Lot. Rava came to rectify Lot. Therefore, Rava was in Babylonia. He was supposed to rectify Babylonia, to rectify Charan, to rectify these places. But the Tzaddik receives greetings every day, because the Tzaddik sacrifices his soul for the sanctification of Hashem’s Name every minute, every second.
And this is what the spies did not understand.
