Genesis 21:17

הָ֚בָה נֵֽרְדָ֔ה וְנָבְלָ֥ה שָׁ֖ם שְׂפָתָ֑ם אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹ֣א יִשְׁמְע֔וּ אִ֖ישׁ שְׂפַ֥ת רֵעֵֽהוּוַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע אֱלֹהִים֮ אֶת־ק֣וֹל הַנַּ֒עַר֒ וַיִּקְרָא֩ מַלְאַ֨ךְ אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ אֶל־הָגָר֙ מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לָ֖הּ מַה־לָּ֣ךְ הָגָ֑ר אַל־תִּ֣ירְאִ֔י כִּֽי־שָׁמַ֧ע אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶל־ק֥וֹל הַנַּ֖עַר בַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הוּא־שָֽׁם׃

God heard the cry of the boy, and an angel  called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heeded the cry of the boy where he is.

Judaism has a broad angelology. A few examples: an angel guards the garden of Eden, an angel appears to Abraham at the near sacrifice of Isaac, one appears to Moses at the burning bush, to Bilam when he’s traveling with his donkey, and to Joshua after he enters the land of Israel. Sometimes these angels appear as supernal entities, and sometimes they appear as human beings. Such was the case when three apparently human visitors arrive at Abraham’s tent in the beginning of this Torah portion, and turn out to be angels. 

It begs the question: if they look the same, what distinguishes angels from people? A hint is given in the verse above using clever word play. We read about Hagar, Sarah’s maidservant, completely distraught after being exiled from her home. An angel (“Malach” in Hebrew) calls to Hagar and asks her what’s wrong (“Ma lach” in Hebrew). The “Malach” is distinguished by asking Hagar a question that sounds the same as the Hebrew word for angel – “Ma lach,” meaning, “what’s wrong?”

The Torah teaches us what it takes to act as the angels do. To act as an angel for another person doesn’t mean we need to do anything supernatural. Rather, it’s as simple as taking notice of a person’s suffering, checking in with them and letting them share what’s wrong. What makes a “Malach?” It’s the willingness to sincerely ask the question “Ma lach.” To be an angel for another person means to see them, to check in with them, and to let them know they are not alone in their suffering.