Parshah Vayera

This week’s Torah portion is called, “Vayera,” which means “And He appeared.”  It is action packed and found in Genesis 18:1.  It begins with God appearing to Abraham three days after his circumcision which marked his covenant with G-d. Then three strangers (angels) appear and Abraham provides them hospitality. One angel prophecies that Sarah will have a child by the following year. Sarah, overhearing this, laughs.

God reveals to Abraham the judgment He is about to bring against the people of Sodom.  Abraham pleads with G-d about justice and sparing the  people of Sodom. God agrees that if there are ten innocent men in the city He will spare it, however, there isn’t.

Two of the angels arrive in Sodom to rescue Abraham’s nephew, Lot, along with his wife and two of their daughters from the impending destruction of the city.  G-d remembers his promise and Isaac is born to Sarah and Abraham who are ninety and one hundred years old, respectively.  This parshah ends with the great test of the “Binding of Isaac.”

• Why does G-d appear to Abraham three days after his circumcision?

• Why does Abraham run to serve the three strangers who appear?  Especially since he was in the presence of G-d?

• If G-d already decided to bring judgement against Sodom, why did Abraham take the time to plead with G-d to spare them

• Please join us for Shabbat service and let’s get into it!