Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to share a D’var Torah at Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid. Though I don’t have the full sermon available, here is an outline in sentence form.
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HASTEN TO DO GOOD— A Vayera Reflection
*Recently, I taught at the Paradigm Project Conference, where there were mailboxes available for people write“Kindness Notes”. People were invited to write a note of appreciation. Unfortunately, as a procrastinator with little things, I never took the moments to write down the many notes I had composed in my head.
*It reminded me of something I’ve learned (and relearned) the hard way: when we wait to do something good, no matter how small, we often never do it at all. Delay is the quiet enemy of compassion.
Abraham Ran Toward Goodness
*In Vayera, Abraham models this beautifully. As three guests appear, the Torah describes him as running—not once, but five separate times.
*And in a stunning comment, Rashi teaches that Abraham even asked God to wait so he could welcome his guests properly. Can you imagine? God appears to check in on him after his circumcision, and Abraham essentially says: “Hold on a moment—I have people to care for.”
*Later in the parashah, Abraham “runs” again—this time toward advocacy, standing before God on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah.
The message is clear:
*When goodness is possible, do not delay.
The Real Meaning of Zerizut
*In our tradition, we call this quality zerizut. It’s not about rushing frantically. It’s about acting at the first honest opportunity.
*A former congregant of mine, Cliff, used to literally run to the bimah whenever he was called up for an aliayh—he would literally run toward the mitzvah. Not because he was in a hurry, but because he was hastening to perform the mitzvah.
Psychology Catches Up to Torah
*Modern psychology has something to say about this too.
Research from David Rand and colleagues — sometimes called the intuition-cooperation effect — shows that when people make decisions quickly, under time pressure, they’re more likely to act generously and cooperatively.
*The longer we deliberate, the more self-protective we become.
In other words:
*Our instinct to help is often our truest self.
*Torah knew this long before social science did. “Hurry to do good” isn’t just spiritual poetry — it’s psychological wisdom.
Redirecting Our Speed
*We move fast in today’s world — racing through email, traffic, deadlines, and obligations. But rarely is our speed pointed toward something sacred.
*Abraham invites us to change that.
To run — not out of panic, but out of purpose.
To move quickly — not through life, but toward what matters.
*Imagine if every time we saw someone struggling, every time we heard a cry for justice, every time we felt that small nudge to check in on a friend, we acted right then.
*Because when we hesitate, we rationalize.
But when we hasten, we humanize.
A Practice for the Week Ahead
*So this week, take a cue from Abraham and Sarah:
When an opportunity arises to offer kindness, generosity, presence, or justice — don’t wait for the perfect moment.
Don’t schedule goodness for later.
*Hasten to do good.
Run — not away from life’s demands, but toward life’s holiness.
*And in that running, may we discover that God is already there, waiting patiently for us to move.
