Vayera
Gen. 18:1-22:24
Précis: God “appeared” (vayera) to Abraham in the form of three travelers to whom Abraham shows hospitality. They promise the birth of Isaac, overheard by Sarah (who laughs). God reveals His plans for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and Abraham argues for its salvation. The scene shifts to Sodom where Lot and his family are rescued, although Lot’s wife glances back and turns into the pillar of salt.
Back with Abraham, Sarah conceives and gives birth to Isaac. She becomes unhappy with the continued presence of Ishmael and prevails upon Abraham to expel Ishmael and Hagar from the household. Thereafter, the story continues with the attempted sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham, called “the Akedah” (the Binding of Isaac).
Gen. 18:23-33 “Abraham came forward and said, ‘Will you sweep away the innocent along with the guilty? What if there be fifty innocents within the city…? Far be it from You to do such a thing, to bring death to the innocent as well as the guilty…’ And Adonai said, ‘I will forgive the whole place for their sake.’ And Abraham said, ‘What if the 50 innocents will lack five? Will you destroy the whole city for want of the five?’”
What was so horrid about the society in Sodom that the entire population – including any innocent individuals – merited destruction? According to A Torah Commentary for our Times (ed. Harvey J. Fields) traditional commentators offered a variety of explanations. The citizens of Sodom refused to share their wealth with others; they deliberately made the lives of those in need more miserable; they refused to care for the ill, the poor, or the needy.
One modern answer might be that in the fight against evil, “collateral damage” of innocents is inevitable and is the cost of doing what is right. There is another meaningful viewpoint: we are each responsible for the societies in which we live and a failure to fight against evils makes us culpable. Here, the lack of protests by the citizens against Sodom's immorality implies that no such opposition existed. All were culpable.
Israelis went to the polls this week with unclear results, and Americans are going to the polls now and in the next few weeks. Both countries have leaders whose actions and motives are far from beyond reproach. I suggest that this week’s reading provides an impetus (if one is needed) to vote and express our demand for adherence to what is good and what is just.
