Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parashat Vayera NOW GOD APPEARED TO HIM BY THE OAKS OF MAMRE AS HE WAS SITTING AT THE ENTRANCE TO HIS TENT AT THE HEAT OF THE DAY. "Appeared to him" – to visit the sick. Said R' Chamma bar Chaninah: It was the third day since his circumcision, and The Holy One, Blessed Be He, came to inquire as to his welfare. (Rashi Bereishit 18:1)   You Shall Walk in His Ways Said R' Chamma...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Vayera THE LORD APPEARED TO HIM BY THE TEREBINTHS OF MAMRE; HE WAS SITTING AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE TENT AS THE DAY GREW HOT. LOOKING UP, HE SAW THREE MEN SANDING NEAR HIM. AS SOON AS HE SAW THEM, HE RAN FROM THE ENTRANCE OF THE TENT TO GREET THEM, AND HE BOWED TO THE GROUND.   THE ESSENCE OF SIGHT HE SAW – Why "he saw" "he saw" twice? The first is to be understood according to its plain meaning. The second "saw" implies...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Vayera NOW HIS WIFE GAZED BEHIND HIM, AND SHE BECAME A PILLAR OF SALT  (Bereishit 19:26)   “And she became a pillar of salt” – Lot’s Wife or the Earth? “Gazed behind him” – Said Rabbi Yizhak: She sinned using salt; on the night that the messengers came to Lot, what did she do? She went to all her neighbors and said to them: Give me salt, for we have guests. Her intention was that the townfolk should be aware of them, therefore “she became...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat Vayera (link to original page) Parshat Vayera "Indeed I will bless you, I will make your seed many, yes, many, like the stars of the heavens and like the sand that is on the shore of the sea. Your seed shall inherit the gate of their enemies." Bereishit 22:17   Like the stars of the heavens – like the sand of the earth? Just as the stars rule only at night, so Israel rules the Torah only at night. Just as the stars honor each other, and there is peace between...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parshat Vayera Transforming the Burning Voice Shalom Bahbut The story of the binding of Isaac provides us with the opportunity to grapple with one of the central issues facing modern society within both the religious and society/political realms. G-d addresses Abraham in this event on several occasions. The first time, at the beginning of the test, it is written: "After these events, G-d tested Abraham and said to him, 'Abraham', and Abraham said, 'Here I am.' 'Take your son, the only one you love – Isaac –...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat Vayera (link to original page) Parshat Vayera "Will You Destroy the Righteous with the Wicked?" Rabbi Paul (Pinchas) Laderman There are four examples in the Bible where G-d announces that evil will befall a community and Biblical characters respond – each in his own way. NOAH does everything that G-d asks of him. He does not argue with G-d. He does not attempt to defend mankind from their impending doom. His response is to save himself and his family, no more. (See the story of Noah -Genesis 6:13 – 22.) ABRAHAM...