{"id":36934,"date":"2018-07-09T18:49:51","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T15:49:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-18\/"},"modified":"2022-03-01T07:45:29","modified_gmt":"2022-03-01T05:45:29","slug":"wall-18","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-18\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Torah-Genesis-18"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"18","date":"20250923","book":"Genesis","chapter":"18","chapter_main_number":"18","books_group":"Torah","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"39799","color":"#faeed8","size":"1","name":"Genesis 18 - Judy Hammond       ","post_title":"Genesis 18 - Judy Hammond","slug":"genesis-18-judy-hammond","old_id":"39799","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34686,"post_title":"Soundcloud","slug":"soundcloud","old_id":"34686","first_name":"","last_name":"","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34656,"alt":"","title":"491","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"18","type_929":"4","show_author_image":true,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"The Audio Bible","tile_main_caption":"Genesis 18","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"read by Judy Hammond","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/929-bible\/genesis-chapter-18-read-by-judy-hammond","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Genesis","chapter":"18","chapter_main_number":"18","date":"20250923","wall_id":"18"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"102491","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"1","name":"Challenging God: A Lesson In Advocacy\u00a0    ","post_title":"Challenging God: A Lesson In Advocacy\u00a0","slug":"challenging-god-a-lesson-in-advocacy","old_id":"102491","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":101758,"post_title":"Naomi Bromberg Bar-Yam","slug":"naomi-bromberg-bar-yam","old_id":"101758","first_name":"Naomi ","last_name":"Bromberg Bar-Yam ","description":"Naomi Bromberg Bar-Yam is a social worker and advocate in maternal and child health. 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Now it is our turn.\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The story of Abraham and God\u2019s conversation about the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:17-33) has much to teach us about the responsibility of decision makers to hear diverse voices, and for those voices to rise and be heard.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In verses 17-19, God is deciding the fate of the evil cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and considers whether to hide this plan from Abraham through whom the world will be blessed. In today\u2019s parlance, Abraham is a stakeholder. God, who has ultimate authority and power, grants him a seat at the table, knowing that Abraham will speak out for justice and mercy, indeed, because of it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Those in positions of authority and power are obligated to invite to the table stakeholders with multiple voices, particularly those who will raise just objections, lest decisions be made in an echo chamber.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In verses 20-21, God hears the cries of those treated unjustly, and investigates before executing the plan. The voices of the wronged matter. They have the obligation to raise their voices, to cry out, to share their stories as widely as they are able. Leaders and deciders have the obligation to investigate, to seek out the stories and hear the cries.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In verses<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">23-26,<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Abraham challenges God to be the God of justice and to save the city for the sake of 50, 45, 30, 20, 10 just people.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like Abraham, we stakeholders must use our seat at the table to hold those in authority accountable to the justice and values they champion.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The story of Sodom and Gomorrah does not end well, but that is for another drash. This poignant and brief passage lays out for us the responsibilities of the parties involved in any effort to advocate for justice:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Those with authority and responsibility to implement just and equitable policies must ensure that stakeholders with opposing and sometimes uncomfortable positions are at the table. They must also listen for and hear the cries of those most affected.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The innocent, wronged, marginalized, must raise their voices, tell their stories, cry out.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Advocates, both individuals and organizations, must be the stakeholders who hold authorities accountable to justice and other values we espouse.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this passage Abraham modeled the pursuit of justice for Moses, Isaiah, Martin Luther King Jr, and many others in advocating accountability, justice and mercy from both people and God.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now it is our turn.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image: Abraham Sees Sodom in Flames, James Tissot,\u00a0 c. 1900 \/ wikimedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":102492,"alt":"","title":"-621cd6f6a5726--621cd6f6a5728gen18-Abraham Sees Sodom in Flames, James Tissot.jpeg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/621cd6f6a5726-621cd6f6a5728gen18-Abraham-Sees-Sodom-in-Flames-James-Tissot.jpeg.jpeg","width":1000,"height":719,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/621cd6f6a5726-621cd6f6a5728gen18-Abraham-Sees-Sodom-in-Flames-James-Tissot.jpeg-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/621cd6f6a5726-621cd6f6a5728gen18-Abraham-Sees-Sodom-in-Flames-James-Tissot.jpeg-300x216.jpeg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":216,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/621cd6f6a5726-621cd6f6a5728gen18-Abraham-Sees-Sodom-in-Flames-James-Tissot.jpeg-768x552.jpeg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":552,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/621cd6f6a5726-621cd6f6a5728gen18-Abraham-Sees-Sodom-in-Flames-James-Tissot.jpeg.jpeg","large-width":1000,"large-height":719,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/621cd6f6a5726-621cd6f6a5728gen18-Abraham-Sees-Sodom-in-Flames-James-Tissot.jpeg.jpeg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":719,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/621cd6f6a5726-621cd6f6a5728gen18-Abraham-Sees-Sodom-in-Flames-James-Tissot.jpeg.jpeg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":719,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/621cd6f6a5726-621cd6f6a5728gen18-Abraham-Sees-Sodom-in-Flames-James-Tissot.jpeg.jpeg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":719,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/621cd6f6a5726-621cd6f6a5728gen18-Abraham-Sees-Sodom-in-Flames-James-Tissot.jpeg-584x420.jpeg","home_baner-width":584,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Challenging God: A Lesson In Advocacy\u00a0","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Abraham modeled the call to accountability, justice and mercy from both people and God. 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He and his daughter studied the Tanach again for her bat mitzvah.  Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group. When not studying for 929, Josh works as an in-house lawyer in New Jersey.","short_description":"Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group, and is an in-house attorney in New Jersey. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":78134,"alt":"","title":"josh blechner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","width":276,"height":351,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","medium_large-width":276,"medium_large-height":351,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","large-width":276,"large-height":351,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","1536x1536-width":276,"1536x1536-height":351,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","2048x2048-width":276,"2048x2048-height":351,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","post_full_size-width":276,"post_full_size-height":351,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","home_baner-width":276,"home_baner-height":351}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"18","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Is there a tension between family loyalty and absolute justice?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We begin chapter 18 with the famous story of the three messengers. One of the messengers tells Abraham that he will return in one year and Sarah will have a child. Sarah laughs, upon which God questions her and Abraham if they believe that God cannot do what He pleases. Then the dialogue ends and God sends the messengers to Sodom. Abraham walks them out and then tries to dissuade God from destroying Sodom.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is the connection between finding out about Isaac and Sodom being destroyed?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The answer lies in the inner monologue transition:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now God had said, \u2018Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, since Abraham is to become a great and populous nation and all the nations of the earth are to bless themselves by him? For I have singled him out, that he may instruct his children and his posterity to keep the way of God by doing what is just and right, in order that God may bring about for Abraham what has been promised him\u2019\u201d (verses 17-19).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why is God concerned with telling Abraham about Sodom? In answer, we turn once again to the four goals. Abraham has reached the point where God is finally ready to give him and Sarah the son they wanted. Why would Abraham care about Sodom? The answer is Lot. Two chapters ago, we saw what Abraham would do to save his nephew. If he returns to save him now, then he once again places his legacy in danger.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the same time, God wants Abraham and his descendants to be arbiters of justice and righteousness in the world. How could God prevent this opportunity from him to request justice? In the end God tips the scales in favor of Abraham. Abraham tries to save Sodom by arguing with God to save the city due to a small group of righteous people; 50, 40, 30, 20, 10\u2026 and then the conversation ends.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A careful reading of text shows that Abraham did not stop at 10. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">God<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> ends the conversation (verse 33) not Abraham. Why? Because the next number after ten is one. Lot. Abraham has shown that he is a man of righteousness and justice because he did not simply ask for Lot to be saved. He challenges God and tries to save as many theoretical righteous people as he could. But, God does not want him to get to that final number.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We see an epilogue to the story at the end of chapter 19. God grants Abraham\u2019s implied request. \u201cThus it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the Plain and annihilated the cities where Lot dwelt, God was mindful of Abraham and removed Lot from the midst of the upheaval\u201d (19:29). The judge of the entire world does carry out justice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":50775,"alt":"","title":"dt16-justice-mercy","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-justice-mercy.jpg","width":294,"height":250,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-justice-mercy-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-justice-mercy.jpg","medium-width":294,"medium-height":250,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-justice-mercy.jpg","medium_large-width":294,"medium_large-height":250,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-justice-mercy.jpg","large-width":294,"large-height":250,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-justice-mercy.jpg","1536x1536-width":294,"1536x1536-height":250,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-justice-mercy.jpg","2048x2048-width":294,"2048x2048-height":250,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-justice-mercy.jpg","post_full_size-width":294,"post_full_size-height":250,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-justice-mercy.jpg","home_baner-width":294,"home_baner-height":250}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"A Lot To Lose","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Is there a tension between family loyalty and absolute justice?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":50775,"alt":"","title":"dt16-justice-mercy","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-justice-mercy.jpg","width":294,"height":250,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-justice-mercy-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-justice-mercy.jpg","medium-width":294,"medium-height":250,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-justice-mercy.jpg","medium_large-width":294,"medium_large-height":250,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-justice-mercy.jpg","large-width":294,"large-height":250,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-justice-mercy.jpg","1536x1536-width":294,"1536x1536-height":250,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-justice-mercy.jpg","2048x2048-width":294,"2048x2048-height":250,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-justice-mercy.jpg","post_full_size-width":294,"post_full_size-height":250,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-justice-mercy.jpg","home_baner-width":294,"home_baner-height":250}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Genesis","chapter":"18","chapter_main_number":"18","date":"20250923","wall_id":"18"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"379","name":"Family","old_id":"779"},{"term_id":"391","name":"In\/Justice","old_id":"791"},{"term_id":"418","name":"Abraham","old_id":"818"}]},{"order":4,"id":"102487","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"1","name":"The Prayer Of The Sodomite    ","post_title":"The Prayer Of The Sodomite","slug":"the-prayer-of-the-sodomite-2","old_id":"102487","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36669,"post_title":"Yakov Azriel","slug":"yakov-azriel","old_id":"36669","first_name":"Yakov ","last_name":"Azriel","description":"Yakov Azriel, who lives in Israel, has published five books of poetry in the USA and hundreds of poems in journals and magazines.  His poems have won twenty-two prizes in international poetry competitions, and he has twice been awarded fellowships from the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture.","short_description":"Yakov Azriel is an English language poet who lives in Israel","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36670,"alt":"","title":"Yakov.Azriel.Photo","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","width":1099,"height":1519,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-217x300.jpg","medium-width":217,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-741x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":741,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-741x1024.jpg","large-width":741,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","1536x1536-width":1099,"1536x1536-height":1519,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","2048x2048-width":1099,"2048x2048-height":1519,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-868x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":868,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-304x420.jpg","home_baner-width":304,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"18","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"If this be Your will \/ Your will be done\r\n","post_main_content_content":"<p>\u201c<em>And the Lord said, \u2018If I find in Sodom fifty righteous people within the city, I will forgive the entire place for their sakes<\/em>.\u201d (Genesis 18:26) <br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nWhat You command,<br \/>\r\nI must perform;<br \/>\r\nIf this be Your will \u2014<br \/>\r\nYour will be done.<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nAnd if Your voice<br \/>\r\nLeaves me no choice,<br \/>\r\nBut to rip out my liver,<br \/>\r\nKidney or spleen;<br \/>\r\nIf this be Your will \u2014<br \/>\r\nYour will be done.<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nAccording to Your plan,<br \/>\r\nTo be a Proper Man<br \/>\r\nI may need to amputate<br \/>\r\nA nose, or thumb, or a right hand;<br \/>\r\nTo do Your will,<br \/>\r\nI might have to carve out<br \/>\r\nA chamber from my heart<br \/>\r\nAnd leave the void<br \/>\r\nBleeding,<br \/>\r\nUnbandaged;<br \/>\r\nIf this be Your will \u2014<br \/>\r\nYour will be done.<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nAnd if Your commands<br \/>\r\nSometimes demand<br \/>\r\nI pluck out an eye<br \/>\r\nSo as not to look;<br \/>\r\nOr slash off an ear<br \/>\r\nSo as not to hear;<br \/>\r\nIf this be Your will \u2014<br \/>\r\nYour will be done.<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nAnd if, in Your eyes,<br \/>\r\nI stand too tall,<br \/>\r\nA rebellious giant full of pride \u2014<br \/>\r\nDwarf me;<br \/>\r\nChop off my legs<br \/>\r\nFrom sole to knee;<br \/>\r\nI\u2019ll fit into the small, narrow box<br \/>\r\nYour decrees have fashioned<br \/>\r\nFor me to lie in;<br \/>\r\nLame and limping, I\u2019ll creep out<br \/>\r\nFrom time to time<br \/>\r\nTo bow before You;<br \/>\r\nIf this be Your will \u2014<br \/>\r\nYour will be done.<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nAnd should I seek<br \/>\r\nTo sing Your praise,<br \/>\r\nBut You decide<br \/>\r\nNo bass,<br \/>\r\nNot even baritone;<br \/>\r\nI\u2019ll throw away my voice<br \/>\r\nAnd sing falsetto;<br \/>\r\nIf this be Your will \u2014<br \/>\r\nYour will be done.<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nAnd after all I\u2019ve done,<br \/>\r\nAll I\u2019ve cut and stripped away<br \/>\r\nIs not enough,<br \/>\r\nAnd You desire<br \/>\r\nNo desire \u2014<br \/>\r\nI agree<br \/>\r\nTo emasculation<br \/>\r\nAnd castration;<br \/>\r\nIf this be Your will \u2014<br \/>\r\nYour will be done.<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nDeformed and maimed,<br \/>\r\nI will be<br \/>\r\nYour perfect me.<br \/>\r\nLet it be.<br \/>\r\nIf this be Your will \u2014<br \/>\r\nYour will be done.<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\nI repeat: If this be Your will \u2014<br \/>\r\nYour will be done.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Yet \u2014<br \/>\r\nHave mercy;<br \/>\r\nFor I am but the vessel<br \/>\r\nYou<br \/>\r\nHave fashioned.<br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\n<em>Blessed are You, O Lord,<\/em><br \/>\r\n<em>Who have made me according to<\/em><br \/>\r\n<em>Your will.<\/em><br \/>\r\n<br \/>\r\n<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":69828,"alt":"","title":"Jer11-prayer","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer11-prayer.png","width":1280,"height":1008,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer11-prayer-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer11-prayer-300x236.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":236,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer11-prayer-768x605.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":605,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer11-prayer-1024x806.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":806,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer11-prayer.png","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":1008,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer11-prayer.png","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":1008,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer11-prayer-1200x945.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":945,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer11-prayer-533x420.png","home_baner-width":533,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"929 Poetry Corner","tile_main_caption":"The Prayer Of The Sodomite","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"If this be Your will \/ Your will be done","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":69828,"alt":"","title":"Jer11-prayer","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer11-prayer.png","width":1280,"height":1008,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer11-prayer-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer11-prayer-300x236.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":236,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer11-prayer-768x605.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":605,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer11-prayer-1024x806.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":806,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer11-prayer.png","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":1008,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer11-prayer.png","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":1008,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer11-prayer-1200x945.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":945,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jer11-prayer-533x420.png","home_baner-width":533,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Genesis","chapter":"18","chapter_main_number":"18","date":"20250923","wall_id":"18"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"362","name":"Poetry","old_id":"762"},{"term_id":"374","name":"Humanity","old_id":"774"},{"term_id":"400","name":"Sin","old_id":"800"}]},{"order":5,"id":"65689","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Vayera: Walking Together, Alone     ","post_title":"Vayera: Walking Together, Alone","slug":"vayera-walking-together-alone","old_id":"65689","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":46171,"post_title":"Avner Moriah","slug":"avner-moriah","old_id":"46171","first_name":"Avner ","last_name":"Moriah ","description":"Avner Moriah is a prolific Israel artist who has addressed a wide range of Jewish and Israeli themes during the four decades of his artistic journey. Currently, Avner is completing a singular artistic and spiritual feat of illuminating the entire Chumash. The unique illuminated books contain hundreds of original drawings that offer a profound, provocative and humorous perspective.  \r\nFor the entire weekly portion series, visit: https:\/\/avnermoriahprints.com\/collections\/parasha\r\nFor more of his work visit: https:\/\/avnermoriah.com\/\r\n","short_description":"Avner Moriah is a prolific Israel artist who is illuminating the entire Chumash.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":46173,"alt":"","title":"avner moriah","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679.jpg","width":1387,"height":1425,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-292x300.jpg","medium-width":292,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-768x789.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":789,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-997x1024.jpg","large-width":997,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679.jpg","1536x1536-width":1387,"1536x1536-height":1425,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679.jpg","2048x2048-width":1387,"2048x2048-height":1425,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-1168x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1168,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-409x420.jpg","home_baner-width":409,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"1070","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The lamb for the sacrifice","post_main_content_content":"<p>Genesis 22 opens with, \u201cGod put Abraham to test,\u201d but Abraham does not know that he is being tested. God tells him to take his beloved son Isaac to the land of Moriah \u201cand offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains\u201d (Gen 22:2). Abraham sets out with Isaac, taking two young men and a donkey. Three days into their journey Abraham \u201clifted his eyes\u201d and saw his destination. Leaving the two men and the donkey behind, he and Isaac \u201cwent both of them together\u201d (Gen. 22:6).<\/p>\r\n<p>These verses give rise to several questions. How could Abraham possibly have been ready to sacrifice his only son, the heir that he had longed for for so many years? What is the meaning of the words, repeated twice in the story, about walking together, once when \u201cAbraham took the wood of the burnt-offering and laid it upon Isaac his son\u201d (Gen.22:6) and then, again, after Isaac\u2019s question about an animal for the sacrifice and Abraham\u2019s answer? Does the phrase mean that they walked together in silence or that they were in total accord as they walked on?<\/p>\r\n<p>In Avner Moriah\u2019s unusual rendering he does not portray Abraham placing his son on top of the altar he had built, as we find in most images of the Binding of Isaac. Rather, it seems that he gives expression to Abraham\u2019s enormous burden coupled with his total faith and commitment to God by painting a mountainous area with Abraham, fire in one hand and a knife in the other, climbing from one mountain to another. Isaac is following behind carrying the wood for the sacrifice. Abraham\u2019s knife seems to be touching Isaac\u2019s neck, giving the impression that the boy is being pulled along rather than willingly walking \u201ctogether\u201d with his father. At the bottom left of the painting the artist ingeniously gives a significant role to the braying donkey, who seems to \u2018inform\u2019 Abraham of the saving ram\u2019s presence.<\/p>\r\n<p>The fire in Abraham\u2019s hand is shedding light on a triangular area between two mountains, where we see an image of a crouching lamb. The painting seems to capture the very moment when Isaac says to his father \u201cBehold the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt-offering?\u201d (Gen. 22:7). Interestingly, Isaac talks about the fire and the wood but not the knife in his father\u2019s hand. As portrayed here, the image of the knife is so alarming that Isaac might have been afraid to ask about it.<\/p>\r\n<p>Abraham\u2019s tender and evasive answer, \u201cGod will provide Himself the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son\u201d (Gen. 22:8), is visualized in the image of the lamb above. This depiction is not only Abraham\u2019s answer to Isaac\u2019s question, but perhaps also his heartfelt plea to God. To the left of the central scene we see a ram \u201ccaught in the thicket by his horn\u201d (Gen. 22:13). He will not have to slaughter his son but will sacrifice the ram instead. Yet he will return to the waiting youths alone, the whereabouts of Isaac remaining a mystery.\u00a0<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":65701,"alt":"","title":"04 Va-yera","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/04-Va-yera.jpg","width":1981,"height":2500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/04-Va-yera-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/04-Va-yera-238x300.jpg","medium-width":238,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/04-Va-yera-768x969.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":969,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/04-Va-yera-811x1024.jpg","large-width":811,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/04-Va-yera.jpg","1536x1536-width":1217,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/04-Va-yera.jpg","2048x2048-width":1623,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/04-Va-yera-951x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":951,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/04-Va-yera-333x420.jpg","home_baner-width":333,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"The Chapter Illustrated","tile_main_caption":"Vayera: Walking Together, Alone","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The lamb for the sacrifice","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":65701,"alt":"","title":"04 Va-yera","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/04-Va-yera.jpg","width":1981,"height":2500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/04-Va-yera-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/04-Va-yera-238x300.jpg","medium-width":238,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/04-Va-yera-768x969.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":969,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/04-Va-yera-811x1024.jpg","large-width":811,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/04-Va-yera.jpg","1536x1536-width":1217,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/04-Va-yera.jpg","2048x2048-width":1623,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/04-Va-yera-951x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":951,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/04-Va-yera-333x420.jpg","home_baner-width":333,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Isaiah","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":false,"wall_id":"1070"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"368","name":"Parasha","old_id":"768"},{"term_id":"369","name":"Visual Arts","old_id":"769"},{"term_id":"418","name":"Abraham","old_id":"818"},{"term_id":"454","name":"Akedah","old_id":"854"}]},{"order":6,"id":"65686","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Parashat Vayera: Transmission To The Future     ","post_title":"Parashat Vayera: Transmission To The Future","slug":"parashat-vayera-transmission-to-the-future","old_id":"65686","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36663,"post_title":"Beth Kissileff","slug":"beth-kissileff","old_id":"36663","first_name":"Beth ","last_name":"Kissileff  ","description":"Beth Kissileff  is the editor of the anthology Reading Genesis (2016 - https:\/\/www.bloomsbury.com\/us\/reading-genesis-9780567381521), and the forthcoming Reading Exodus, and the author of the novel Questioning Return - https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Questioning-Return-Novel-Beth-Kissileff\/dp\/1942134231. \r\nHer journalism appears in many publications; she has taught most recently at the University of Pittsburgh. Visit her online at www.bethkissileff.com.  ","short_description":"Beth Kissileff  is the editor of the anthology Reading Genesis (Bloomsbury\/ T and T Clark, 2016) , a journalist and teacher.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36664,"alt":"","title":"BethKissileff","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/BethKissileff-e1533157952224.jpg","width":3478,"height":3200,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/BethKissileff-e1533157952224-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/BethKissileff-e1533157952224-300x276.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":276,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/BethKissileff-e1533157952224-768x707.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":707,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/BethKissileff-e1533157952224-1024x942.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":942,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/BethKissileff-e1533157952224.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1413,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/BethKissileff-e1533157952224.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1884,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/BethKissileff-e1533157952224-1200x1104.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1104,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/BethKissileff-e1533157952224-456x420.jpg","home_baner-width":456,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"1070","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"To instruct our children and posterity to do what is just and right","post_main_content_content":"<p>The portion of Vayera culminates in the final test of Abraham, as it is written \u201cand God tested Abraham\u201d (22:1).\u00a0But what is God testing? Abraham\u2019s willingness to risk all, his beloved son, the only one of Sarah? Or his ability to follow the God's voice, wherever it may lead?\u00a0 I think that the focus is not on Abraham himself, but in how he has passed his values on, demonstrated in Isaac's response.\u00a0Has Abraham educated Isaac so that Isaac\u2019s faith in God is as strong as Abraham\u2019s? God even says in 18:19, \u201cFor I have singled him out, that he may instruct his children and his posterity to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is just and right.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>If the first test of Abraham was his willingness to leave the home of his father to journey to the land God would show him, the first test of Isaac is to give up his life if necessary at the command of God.\u00a0 As we see from the ram that is substituted for Isaac, his life is not a precondition for the covenant, but his willingness to be a sacrifice is. It is Isaac\u2019s complete embrace of his father\u2019s ideals that ensures the covenant.\u00a0Genesis Rabbah 56:8 speaks of Isaac\u2019s desire to be bound so that he will not move at the last minute, binding his ultimate commitment.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>After the binding is over, the test is not.\u00a0Rabbi Ari Kahn writes in <em>Explorations Expanded: Sefer Bereishit <\/em>that \u201cthe real test for Yitzchak was coming down the mountain, re-joining the rest of the world, relating to God through the attribute of<em> chesed<\/em> (lovingkindness).\u201d Though Isaac was willing to be bound, his personal sacrifice was great. Many midrashim attribute the blindness he experienced at the end of his life to the tears of the angels or of Abraham that fell in his eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>We next meet Isaac when he is \u201cmeditating in the fields\u201d (24: 63) about to meet his wife, the only wife he will ever have, Rebecca.\u00a0\"Meditate\" here is commonly understood as prayer, but I imagine Isaac thinking about how he will continue to pass his tests and carry out the message of kindness as well as build a family with his wife, albeit after a twenty-year period of infertility.\u00a0Isaac is the only one of the patriarchs who explicitly prays to God that his wife be given a child (25:21).\u00a0Isaac accepts his father\u2019s values, proves his commitment, and prays to God for a child to pass them along to.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>The Talmud lists three characteristics of the Jewish people: being merciful, being able to be ashamed and doing acts of kindness (Yevamot 79a).\u00a0The prooftext for \u201cacts of kindness\u201d is from the command to Abraham in Genesis 18:19.\u00a0It is the acts of <em>chesed<\/em> of Isaac and his descendants that ensure the transmission of the values of the house of Abraham.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>This is my last piece on the Torah portion for 929, and I hope that others too can leave sites of trauma that they like Isaac have experienced and continue to act with <em>chesed<\/em>, and the other characteristics of the Jewish 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This interactive resource, produced by The Pardes Center for Jewish Educators, is engaging for all ages.","post_main_content_content":"<p>\u201cIn Parshat Vayera, Avraham and Sarah are old and past when they think they will be able to have children. Suddenly, as Avraham is sitting at the opening of his tent, he looks up and sees three men appear. He rushes to make sure they feel welcomed and well cared for. We then find out that these men are angels sent from God. One of them tells Avraham that next year they will return and Sarah will have a son. Sarah hears this news and laughs to herself because she thinks that she is too old to hope for that to happen. In fact, the parsha explains three moments when Sarah laughs around the topic of having her son. She even names her son \u201cYitzhak\u201d which comes from the word tz-h-k (\u05e6-\u05d7-\u05e7), meaning \u2018laughter.\u2019<\/p>\r\n<p>Just as Avraham began this parsha with his eyes downward \u2013 needing to look upwards and outwards to be able to spread goodness to others and see the guests he wanted to welcome \u2013 Sarah too goes through a similar journey. At first she begins with an inner doubting laughter, but later spreads the laughter outwards, sharing it with others joyfully.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/elmad.pardes.org\/download\/12967\/\">Click here<\/a>\u00a0to download and print this week\u2019s Parsha Experience on Parshat Vayera \u2013 Feeling our Laughter, an exciting new series from The Pardes Center for Jewish Educators.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":45256,"alt":"","title":"pardes cover image","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/pardes-cover-image.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/pardes-cover-image-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/pardes-cover-image-300x169.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":169,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/pardes-cover-image-768x432.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":432,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/pardes-cover-image-1024x576.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":576,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/pardes-cover-image.jpg","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":720,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/pardes-cover-image.jpg","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":720,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/pardes-cover-image-1200x675.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":675,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/pardes-cover-image-747x420.jpg","home_baner-width":747,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Interactive Family Study Materials","tile_main_caption":"Lech Lecha \u2013 Who Is Up For The Challenge?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Download the study guide","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":45256,"alt":"","title":"pardes cover image","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/pardes-cover-image.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/pardes-cover-image-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/pardes-cover-image-300x169.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":169,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/pardes-cover-image-768x432.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":432,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/pardes-cover-image-1024x576.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":576,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/pardes-cover-image.jpg","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":720,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/pardes-cover-image.jpg","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":720,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/pardes-cover-image-1200x675.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":675,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/pardes-cover-image-747x420.jpg","home_baner-width":747,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Isaiah","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":false,"wall_id":"1070"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"368","name":"Parasha","old_id":"768"}]},{"order":8,"id":"65684","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Vayera: Lot, Sodom and Gomorrah - How Abraham Bargained with God     ","post_title":"Vayera: Lot, Sodom and Gomorrah - How Abraham Bargained with God","slug":"vayera-lot-sodom-and-gomorrah-how-abraham-bargained-with-god","old_id":"65684","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":37754,"post_title":"BimBam","slug":"bimbam","old_id":"37754","first_name":"","last_name":"BimBam","description":"BimBam sparks connections to Judaism through digital storytelling  for learners of all ages.","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":37755,"alt":"","title":"bimbam","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/bimbam.png","width":218,"height":217,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/bimbam-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/bimbam.png","medium-width":218,"medium-height":217,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/bimbam.png","medium_large-width":218,"medium_large-height":217,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/bimbam.png","large-width":218,"large-height":217,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/bimbam.png","1536x1536-width":218,"1536x1536-height":217,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/bimbam.png","2048x2048-width":218,"2048x2048-height":217,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/bimbam.png","post_full_size-width":218,"post_full_size-height":217,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/bimbam.png","home_baner-width":218,"home_baner-height":217}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"1070","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"<p>Sodom was a town filled with wicked people who drank too much, got into mischief and who knows what else. G-d didn't like it and planned to destroy the city and everyone in it. But then, Abraham decided to try to bargain with G-d to save his beloved nephew, Lot. Find out what happens in this parsha video featuring \"Unorthodox\" podcast host Mark Oppenheimer.<\/p>\r\n<p>SUBSCRIBE to BimBam [<a class=\"yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string\" spellcheck=\"false\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/bimbam\" rel=\"nofollow\">http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/bimbam<\/a>]<\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/IvoLEonjlP8","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Written and narrated by Mark Oppenheimer","tile_main_caption":"Vayera: Lot, Sodom and Gomorrah - How Abraham Bargained with God","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A Bimbam Video","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/IvoLEonjlP8","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Isaiah","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":false,"wall_id":"1070"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"368","name":"Parasha","old_id":"768"},{"term_id":"371","name":"Video","old_id":"771"}]},{"order":9,"id":"37014","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"This is What It Means to Visit the Sick            ","post_title":"This is What It Means to Visit the Sick","slug":"this-is-what-it-means-to-visit-the-sick","old_id":"37014","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":37012,"post_title":"Leah Sarna","slug":"leah-sarna","old_id":"37012","first_name":"Leah","last_name":"Sarna","description":"Rabbanit Leah Sarna is the Associate Director of Education and Director of High School Programs at the Drisha Institute for Jewish Education. Originally from the Boston area, she trained at the Beit Midrash for Women at Migdal Oz, Yale University, Yeshivat Maharat, the Drisha Institute for Jewish Education and the Center for Modern Torah Leadership. ","short_description":"Rabbanit Leah Sarna is the Associate Director of Education and Director of High School Programs at the Drisha Institute for Jewish Education. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":37013,"alt":"","title":"leah sarna","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/leah-sarna-e1533548528401.jpeg","width":1532,"height":2001,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/leah-sarna-e1533548528401-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/leah-sarna-e1533548528401-230x300.jpeg","medium-width":230,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/leah-sarna-e1533548528401-768x1003.jpeg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":1003,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/leah-sarna-e1533548528401-784x1024.jpeg","large-width":784,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/leah-sarna-e1533548528401.jpeg","1536x1536-width":1176,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/leah-sarna-e1533548528401.jpeg","2048x2048-width":1532,"2048x2048-height":2001,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/leah-sarna-e1533548528401-919x1200.jpeg","post_full_size-width":919,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/leah-sarna-e1533548528401-322x420.jpeg","home_baner-width":322,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"18","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Leave your own needs at the door","post_main_content_content":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just out of surgery, Abraham sits at the entrance to his tent. \u00a0Like any sick person, he feels not just the physical hurt, but the existential anxiety of being off schedule-- there is work to be done, and here he is, sitting around, healing. And then God appears: a visitor. <\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Sotah 14b, Rabbi Hama b. Rabbi Hanina ponders what the verse means when it commands us to walk in the ways of God, and concludes that it means to emulate God\u2019s attributes. As an example, Rabbi Hama points to our chapter and recommends: God visited the sick, so too we should visit the sick.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">God appeared to Abraham in this chapter to give neither commandment nor covenant, but comfort. \u00a0And, as far as we know, no words were exchanged. God appeared, and then there were others guests to attend to\u2014and that\u2019s the end of the visit as the Torah tells it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This does not seem like a particularly dignified visit. Abraham left the presence of God to go speak to some other, flesh and blood visitors?<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And yet\u2014this is what it means to visit the sick. To show up in the worst of times and, sometimes, to leave quickly, at the convenience of the visited, even if the visitor feels unfulfilled. It helps as a visitor to remember that this is the way of God. Show up for the other; leave your own needs at the door. 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Written as an accompaniment to Rabbi Sacks\u2019 weekly Covenant & Conversation essay, the Family Edition is aimed at connecting older children and teenagers with his ideas and thoughts on the parsha. Each element of the Family Edition is progressively more advanced; The Core Idea is appropriate for all ages and the final element, From The Thought of Rabbi Sacks, is the most advanced section. Each section includes Questions to Ponder, aimed at encouraging discussion between family members in a way most appropriate to them. We have also included a section called Around the Shabbat Table with a few further questions on the parsha to think about. The final section is an Educational Companion which includes suggested talking points in response to the questions found throughout the Family Edition.","short_description":"Covenant & Conversation: Family Edition is a new and exciting initiative from The Office of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":42814,"alt":"","title":"CCfamilylogo-693x457","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457.jpg","width":693,"height":457,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457-300x198.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":198,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457.jpg","medium_large-width":693,"medium_large-height":457,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457.jpg","large-width":693,"large-height":457,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457.jpg","1536x1536-width":693,"1536x1536-height":457,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457.jpg","2048x2048-width":693,"2048x2048-height":457,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457.jpg","post_full_size-width":693,"post_full_size-height":457,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457-637x420.jpg","home_baner-width":637,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"1070","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"<p>In this week's parsha three strangers pass by Abraham's tent. What Abraham and Sarah do not know is that they are in fact angels. Abraham offers them food and a place to rest. One of them tells Abraham that Sarah will have a baby, and Sarah, who is listening in, laughs because she believes she is far too old to have children.<\/p>\r\n<p>Next, God tells Abraham about His plan to punish the people of Sodom because they are behaving so wickedly. Abraham is worried that innocent people in Sodom could suffer too, and argues with God that He must save the city if that is true. With real (and never-before seen) chutzpah he argues that God must take justice into account! God agrees that if ten innocent men can be found, He will spare the city (but unfortunately, even this deal does not save Sodom). Two of the angels visit Abraham\u2019s nephew, Lot, in Sodom to rescue him and his family before the city is destroyed.<\/p>\r\n<p>The baby promised to Abraham and Sarah is born and they name him Isaac. At the end of the parsha the Torah tells the famous story of the \u201cAkedat Yitzchak\u201d, also known as the \u201cBinding of Isaac.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/rabbisacks.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/CC-Vayera-5780-FE-final.pdf\"><strong>Download the Family Edition for Vayera as a PDF<\/strong><\/a><\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Family Study Materials","tile_main_caption":"Negative Capability","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"for Parashat Vayera","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":42816,"alt":"","title":"covenant and conversation - Sacks","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks.jpg","width":723,"height":426,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks-300x177.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":177,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks.jpg","medium_large-width":723,"medium_large-height":426,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks.jpg","large-width":723,"large-height":426,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks.jpg","1536x1536-width":723,"1536x1536-height":426,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks.jpg","2048x2048-width":723,"2048x2048-height":426,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks.jpg","post_full_size-width":723,"post_full_size-height":426,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks-713x420.jpg","home_baner-width":713,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Isaiah","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":false,"wall_id":"1070"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"354","name":"Rabbi Sacks","old_id":"754"},{"term_id":"368","name":"Parasha","old_id":"768"}]},{"order":11,"id":"36994","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Sodom as Challenge and Mission              ","post_title":"Sodom as Challenge and Mission","slug":"sodom-as-challenge-and-mission","old_id":"36994","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36843,"post_title":"Yitzchak Mayer","slug":"yitzchak-mayer","old_id":"36843","first_name":"Yitzchak ","last_name":"Mayer ","description":"Yitzchak Mayer is an educator and author who served for 18 years as the director of Yemin Orde, a youth village located in the Carmel region of Israel south of Haifa.  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But God, higher than highest heights, weighs the question (18:17): \"Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?\" What is God going to do that Abraham does not know? God appoints him in his generation, and for all the generations following, throughout all of history, in opposition to all types of Sodoms wherever they may be, whether within himself and his people in the Promised Land, or anywhere in the world, where people have moral failings, as people.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\"Shall I hide from Abraham\" (Genesis 18:17) that the purpose I chose him for, to be father of many nations is \"that he may instruct his children and his posterity to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is just and right,\u201d (Genesis 18:19) \u00a0and \"if not, I will take note\u201d (18:21), God forbid. <\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shall I hide from him that the price of choosing to do acts of kindness is to pursue righteousness and live, or to be silent in the face of Sodom and become orphaned? \u00a0The angels were afraid to inform Abraham and Sarah of the gravity of this mission.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The God on high could not hide it, and God\u2019s prophet Isaiah memorializes it again for generations (Isaiah 51:1-2): \u00a0\u201cListen to Me, you who pursue justice, You who seek the Lord...Look back to Abraham your father And to Sarah who brought you forth\u05e5\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you look to see before you the image of your ancestors who swore \u201cto do what is just and right\u201c (Genesis 18:19) let what your eyes see also be what your ears hear. \u201cListen to Me\u201d (Isaiah 51:1) personally, intimately, at all times. Perhaps this is the profound meaning of the words (Exodus 20:15) \u00a0\"All the people saw the thunder,\u201d at Sinai. Always.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Sodom as Challenge and Mission","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The price of choosing to do acts of kindness is to pursue righteousness and live","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Genesis","chapter":"18","chapter_main_number":"18","date":"20250923","wall_id":"18"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"391","name":"In\/Justice","old_id":"791"},{"term_id":"418","name":"Abraham","old_id":"818"}]},{"order":12,"id":"36985","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"What\u2019s the Real Reason Sarah Laughed?              ","post_title":"What\u2019s the Real Reason Sarah Laughed?","slug":"whats-the-real-reason-sarah-laughed","old_id":"36985","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33942,"post_title":"Hagit Bartuv","slug":"hagit-bartuv","old_id":"33942","first_name":"Hagit","last_name":"Bartuv","description":"Hagit Bartuv is the project and content leader of the Srigim initiative on Israeli moshavim whose goal is to enrich moshavim with more Jewish-Israeli culture.  In 2013, as a modern Orthodox woman, she challenged the conversion court in Israel after she refused to accept their demand that she send her adopted child to an ultra-Orthodox pre-school. 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Why was this bit of news necessary?<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Imagine that you received such a message: that what you had hoped for, and had cried for, and was upset about, and lost your temper about, and despaired of, is about to happen in the face of all logic and nature. What would you feel, what kind of emotional turmoil would you find yourself in? And of what is the benefit of Sarah entering this tension of excitement and anxiety and hope and preparation for disappointment and joy and distrust? Every fertility doctor will tell you that this emotional intensity is not what it takes to get pregnant. If Sarah had become pregnant without this news, it would have been clear to her and to Abraham and to the entire world that this was a miracle from God. \u00a0So why did God take the trouble to deliver this news?<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When God delivered the news to Abraham and Sarah overhead it, she laughed; for what else could she do in this emotional frenzy?! \u00a0It is surprising, then, that God called her to task for laughing and demanded that she explain her laughter.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Perhaps the reason is that God wanted to open in Sarah's heart a place to continue yearning for a child, a place that had already been closed up and sealed, so that she could make room for this miraculous pregnancy.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When Sarah laughed and God insisted on discussing this laughter with her, maybe God wanted to force her to ask herself: really, why did I laugh? Perhaps God wanted to compel her to examine the complex emotions that such news engenders and thus enable her? Perhaps God wanted to help her to believe in life once again.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":94002,"alt":"","title":"job10-mother baby 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Divine Trace in the Other              ","post_title":"The Divine Trace in the Other","slug":"the-divine-trace-in-the-other","old_id":"36992","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33923,"post_title":"Jonathan Sacks","slug":"rabbi-lord-jonathan-sacks","old_id":"33923","first_name":"Jonathan ","last_name":"Sacks","description":"An international religious leader, philosopher, and award-winning author of over 35 books, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks served as the International President of 929.\r\nRabbi Sacks served as the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth years between 1991 and 2013, and was knighted by Her Majesty The Queen in 2005 and made a Life Peer.  Rabbi Sacks passed away on 7th November 2020, aged 72. He was one of the greatest Jewish thinkers of the 20th century, who bridged the religious and secular world through his ground-breaking canon of work.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"short_description":"Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z\"k (1948-2020) was the former Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth, and the International 929 president.","link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36222,"alt":"","title":"JSacks","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594.jpg","width":437,"height":548,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594-239x300.jpg","medium-width":239,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-768x448.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":448,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-1024x597.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":597,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594.jpg","1536x1536-width":437,"1536x1536-height":548,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594.jpg","2048x2048-width":437,"2048x2048-height":548,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594.jpg","post_full_size-width":437,"post_full_size-height":548,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594-335x420.jpg","home_baner-width":335,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"18","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Greater is the person who sees God in the face of a stranger than one who sees God as God in a vision of transcendence","post_main_content_content":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How are we to understand the first verse in chapter 18? God \u201cappears\u201d to Abraham but there is no apparent content to this appearance. A radical interpretation explains the abrupt halt in Abraham\u2019s dialogue with God. God appeared to Abraham, but before He could say what He intended to say, three men passed by. Abraham interrupted God, asking Him to wait while he attends to the needs of his visitors. Only once their needs are met and Abraham accompanies them on their way does the encounter between God and Abraham resume. <\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This interpretation of the narrative structure of Genesis 18 expresses one of Judaism\u2019s most majestic ideas. There is God as we meet Him in a vision, an epiphany, a mystical encounter in the depths of the soul. But there is also God as we see His trace in another person, even a stranger, a passer-by; in Abraham\u2019s case, three Arab travellers in the heat of the day. Greater is the person who sees God in the face of a stranger than one who sees God as God in a vision of transcendence, for the Jewish task since the days of Abraham is not to ascend to heaven but to bring heaven down to earth in simple deeds of kindness and hospitality.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Excerpted from: <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/rabbisacks.org\/covenant-conversation-5767-vayera\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">http:\/\/rabbisacks.org\/covenant-conversation-5767-vayera\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":64071,"alt":"","title":"2kings13-faces","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-faces.jpg","width":1920,"height":1355,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-faces-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-faces-300x212.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":212,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-faces-768x542.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":542,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-faces-1024x723.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":723,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-faces.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1084,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-faces.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1355,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-faces-1200x847.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":847,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-faces-595x420.jpg","home_baner-width":595,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The 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Sacks","old_id":"754"},{"term_id":"384","name":"God","old_id":"784"},{"term_id":"453","name":"Stranger","old_id":"853"}]},{"order":14,"id":"36990","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Abraham Between God and Guests              ","post_title":"Abraham Between God and Guests","slug":"abraham-between-god-and-guests","old_id":"36990","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34243,"post_title":"Moshe Sokolow","slug":"moshe-sokolow","old_id":"34243","first_name":"Moshe","last_name":"Sokolow","description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University, and teaches a weekly class in parashat hashavu`a at Lincoln Square Synagogue. He is the author of TANAKH: An Owner\u2019s Manual (Jerusalem: Urim\/Ktav, 2015).\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34244,"alt":"","title":"sokolow","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","width":302,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-300x298.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":298,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","medium_large-width":302,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","large-width":302,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","1536x1536-width":302,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","2048x2048-width":302,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","post_full_size-width":302,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","home_baner-width":302,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"18","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Sometimes the best way to serve God is to abandon God","post_main_content_content":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Abraham\u2019s reaction to the appearance of guests at his tent is startling: He extends his hospitality even at the expense of interrupting his divine visitor. No less startling is God\u2019s reaction to the interruption: Rather than the rebuke we might have anticipated, He patiently awaited Abraham\u2019s completion of his convivial obligations before resuming conversation with him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This distinguished Abraham in the realm of relationships with God (<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bein adam la-makom<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and gave birth, as it were, to the midrashic adage: \u201cHospitality is greater than receiving the Divine Presence.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The episode concerning Abraham and the glad tiding of the impending birth of Isaac is a pivotal link in the chain of circumstances initiated when God promised that his descendants would inherit the Promised Land (12:7). At the same time, the disconcerting tiding of imminent doom to Sodom brings to denouement the story that began when Lot settled there (13:12).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Abraham\u2019s advocacy for Lot and for the hypothetical righteous of Sodom (v. 23 ff.) distinguished him in the realm of relationships with people (<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bein adam le-chavero<\/span><\/em><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">validating, as it were, God\u2019s promise that he would become \u201cthe father of many nations.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p>image: 'Abraham and the Three Angels,' , by James Tissot, c. 1900 \/ Wikipedia<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":102504,"alt":"","title":"-621cec8603f8c--621cec8603f8egen18-Tissot_Abraham_and_the_Three_Angels.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621cec8603f8c-621cec8603f8egen18-Tissot_Abraham_and_the_Three_Angels.jpg.jpg","width":640,"height":400,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621cec8603f8c-621cec8603f8egen18-Tissot_Abraham_and_the_Three_Angels.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621cec8603f8c-621cec8603f8egen18-Tissot_Abraham_and_the_Three_Angels.jpg-300x188.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":188,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621cec8603f8c-621cec8603f8egen18-Tissot_Abraham_and_the_Three_Angels.jpg.jpg","medium_large-width":640,"medium_large-height":400,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621cec8603f8c-621cec8603f8egen18-Tissot_Abraham_and_the_Three_Angels.jpg.jpg","large-width":640,"large-height":400,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621cec8603f8c-621cec8603f8egen18-Tissot_Abraham_and_the_Three_Angels.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":640,"1536x1536-height":400,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621cec8603f8c-621cec8603f8egen18-Tissot_Abraham_and_the_Three_Angels.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":640,"2048x2048-height":400,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621cec8603f8c-621cec8603f8egen18-Tissot_Abraham_and_the_Three_Angels.jpg.jpg","post_full_size-width":640,"post_full_size-height":400,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621cec8603f8c-621cec8603f8egen18-Tissot_Abraham_and_the_Three_Angels.jpg.jpg","home_baner-width":640,"home_baner-height":400}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Abraham Between God and Guests","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Sometimes the best way to serve God is to abandon 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There Were Three...              ","post_title":"Behold There Were Three...","slug":"behold-there-were-three","old_id":"36987","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34235,"post_title":"Marc Gitler","slug":"marc-gitler","old_id":"34235","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Gitler","description":"Rabbi Marc Gitler,  a recipient of the Wexner Fellowship, was ordained at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, and earned an MPA from NYU . The founder of Fast for Feast, he lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife Sarah and their four children. He used to work for 929 North America.\r\n","short_description":"Rabbi Marc Gitler, founder of Fast for Feast, lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife Sarah and their four children. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34236,"alt":"","title":"Marc Gitler","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","width":407,"height":407,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","medium_large-width":407,"medium_large-height":407,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","large-width":407,"large-height":407,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","1536x1536-width":407,"1536x1536-height":407,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","2048x2048-width":407,"2048x2048-height":407,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","post_full_size-width":407,"post_full_size-height":407,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","home_baner-width":407,"home_baner-height":407}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"18","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Contemporary angels doing their holy work","post_main_content_content":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The hour was late. We we were tired and scared, and waiting for a razor. The next morning our father would be undergoing major surgery to remove the 9-centimeter cancerous tumor on his kidney, in the very hospital where he trained and worked for over 30 years. After waiting another fifteen minutes mom called down \u201csorry to bother, but the anesthesiologist ordered a razor so Dr. Gitler could shave his beard before surgery, and we have been waiting quite a while. Can you please send one up to our room?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Minutes later three female hospital employees show up at the door with a razor and words of hope. The first, I refer to her as Micha\u2019el began \u201cDr. Gitler it has always been such a pleasure working with you here in the hospital, I had to come up and wish you well before your surgery.\u201d The second, Gavri\u2019el remarked \u201cDoc, do you remember me? You operated on my son years ago, greatly improving his hearing. I just wanted to offer you my blessings before the surgery tomorrow.\u201d The third, Repha\u2019el stated \u201cDr. Gitler, five years ago you performed emergency surgery on my throat, here is the razor, you are in my prayers.\u201d \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We thanked them for the razor, and more importantly for their words of encouragement, and care. 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- The Hebrew Corner - Gen18              ","post_title":"MiliMiliM - The Hebrew Corner - Gen18","slug":"milimilim-the-hebrew-corner-gen18","old_id":"37004","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34011,"post_title":"Jeremy Benstein","slug":"dr-jeremy-benstein","old_id":"34011","first_name":"Jeremy","last_name":"Benstein","description":"Dr. Jeremy Benstein is the managing editor of 929-English. He is one of the founders of the Heschel Center for Sustainability. He writes the MiliMiliM - Hebrew Corner on the site, and is the author of a book about the Hebrew language, \"Hebrew Roots, Jewish Routes: A Tribal Language in a Global World\" (Behrman House, 2019). ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"short_description":"Dr. Jeremy Benstein is the managing editor of 929-English,  and is the author of a book about the Hebrew language, \"Hebrew Roots, Jewish Routes: A Tribal Language in a Global World\" (Behrman House, 2019). ","link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34232,"alt":"","title":"Jeremy Benstein","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1-300x169.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":169,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1-768x432.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":432,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1-1024x576.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":576,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1.jpg","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":720,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1.jpg","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":720,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1-1200x675.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":675,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1-747x420.jpg","home_baner-width":747,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"18","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"\u05e9\u05d5\u05e4\u05d8 - \u05de\u05e4\u05e9\u05d8 - Shofet \/ Mishpat - Judge and Justice\r\n","post_main_content_content":"<p>There are two common roots in Hebrew that are very close, and so need to be differentiated. When Abraham cries out: \"<em>Hashofet kol haaretz lo ya'aseh mishpat?<\/em> Shall not the Judge of all the earth do justice?\u201d he is using two expressions of this root \u00a0\u05e9-\u05e4-\u05d8\u00a0<em>sh-f-t<\/em>, \"judging\u201d or \u201cjudgment.\" The common Hebrew word for judge is \u05e9\u05d5\u05e4\u05d8 <em>shofet,<\/em> the central figure in the \u05d1\u05d9\u05ea \u05de\u05e9\u05e4\u05d8 <em>beit mishpat<\/em>, \u201ccourthouse.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p>On the other hand, the Hebrew word \u05d3\u05d9\u05df <em>din <\/em>(pronounced somewhere between \"din\" and \"dean\") means \"law\" or \"statute,\" or the kabbalistic principle of strict justice (compare with \u05e8\u05d7\u05de\u05d9\u05dd, <em>rachamim<\/em>, \"mercy\"). \u00a0It comes from the root \u05d3-\u05d9-\u05e0 <em>d-y-n<\/em> (the medial <em>yod <\/em>can sound like an \"i\" or a \"y\"). The word for \"state\" is \u05de\u05d3\u05d9\u05e0\u05d4 <em>medinah<\/em>, as in \u05de\u05d3\u05d9\u05e0\u05ea \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc, <em>medinat yisrael,<\/em> \"the State of Israel,\" from \u05d3\u05d9\u05df <em>din<\/em>. So law is actually the state's \"middle name.\"<\/p>\r\n<p>\u05d3-\u05d9-\u05e0 <em>D-y-n <\/em>also gives us \u05d1\u05d9\u05ea \u05d3\u05d9\u05df <em>beit din<\/em>, meaning \u201chouse of law\u201d or court, and \u05d3\u05d9\u05d9\u05df <em>dayan<\/em>, which means \u201cjudge.\u201d (Dayan is also a famous last name, shared by legendary politician Moshe, general Uzi, actor Assi, politician Yael and others.)<\/p>\r\n<p>The quasi-Aramaic expression \u05dc\u05d9\u05ea \u05d3\u05d9\u05df \u05d5\u05dc\u05d9\u05ea \u05d3\u05d9\u05d9\u05df \u201c<em>leit din veleit dayan<\/em>,\u201d meaning \u201cThere is no judgment or judge in the world,\u201d refers to a state of metaphysical lawlessness and anarchy. Which is what Abraham would've said had God not accepted his entreaties. Coming from Aram Naharayim, Abraham's Aramaic was probably pretty good...<\/p>\r\n<p>What's the difference between the roots \u05d3-\u05d9-\u05e0 <em>d-y-n <\/em>and \u05e9-\u05e4-\u05d8 <em>sh-f-t<\/em>? This is a good example of how redundancy in a language leads to specialization. In contemporary Hebrew, \u05d3\u05d9\u05d9\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd <em>dayanim<\/em> refer exclusively to \u201creligious judges\u201d in \u05d1\u05ea\u05d9 \u05d3\u05d9\u05df <em>batei din <\/em>(pl.), \u201creligious courts.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p><em>Shoftim<\/em>, despite being the name of the book of the Bible translated as \"Judges,\" refers to judges in the \"secular\" court system. Some of these judges may be personally religious, but they judge according to the laws of the State of Israel, not according to \u05d3\u05d9\u05df \u05ea\u05d5\u05e8\u05d4 <em>din Torah<\/em>, \u201cTorah law,\u201d or Jewish religious precepts.<\/p>\r\n<p>There is, however, some overlap. A \u201ctrial\u201d in a regular court is a \u05de\u05e9\u05e4\u05d8 <em>mishpat<\/em>, while the judge's \u201cruling\u201d is the \u05e4\u05e1\u05e7 \u05d3\u05d9\u05df <em>pesak din<\/em>, and his \u201csentence\u201d is the \u05d2\u05d6\u05e8 \u05d3\u05d9\u05df <em>gezar din<\/em>. This is interesting, because the word \u05de\u05e9\u05e4\u05d8 <em>mishpat <\/em>also means \u201csentence\u201d in the other sense \u2013 a grammatically structured string of words (like the one you're reading right now).<\/p>\r\n<p>So one can try to judge a sentence if it is good or bad, just like you can try, and sentence, a judge if she or he is bad\u2026<\/p>\r\n<p>English is more precise than Hebrew when it comes to those doing the judging. In addition to \"judge,\" it has \"referee\" and \"umpire,\" whereas - Jumping Jehosaphat! (from the Biblical name Yehoshafat, \"God judges\")- all of these are <em>shoftim <\/em>in or on Hebrew-speaking criminal, basketball or tennis courts.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":102497,"alt":"","title":"-621cdae9bbc94--621cdae9bbc96gen18-milim justice shofet 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on the Daily Chapter- Gen 18              ","post_title":"Lessons on the Daily Chapter- Gen 18","slug":"lessons-on-the-daily-chapter-gen-18","old_id":"36980","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34686,"post_title":"Soundcloud","slug":"soundcloud","old_id":"34686","first_name":"","last_name":"","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34656,"alt":"","title":"491","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"18","type_929":"4","show_author_image":true,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Lessons on the Daily Chapter - Gen 18","tile_main_caption":"Short talks by Adam Mintz and by David Silber","tile_main_caption_size":"2","tile_sub_caption":"Rabbi Silber's teachings are dedicated in memory of Joan Silverstein Meyers and Ellen Goodstein Koplow. ","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/929-bible\/sets\/genesis-chapter-18","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"2","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Genesis","chapter":"18","chapter_main_number":"18","date":"20250923","wall_id":"18"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":20,"id":"36996","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Chapter Summary - Genesis 18              ","post_title":"Chapter Summary - Genesis 18","slug":"chapter-summary-genesis-18","old_id":"36996","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":false,"related_cahpter":"18","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Chapter 18: Abraham, the activist\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We are familiar Abraham (who was Abram at first) already from Chapter 11. But in this chapter we will get to know him closely in two events in which he initiates, acts, and literally goes out of his way to do the things he desires to do.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><b>The first event (verses 1-15):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Guests come to Abraham's house. Abraham is very practical (pay attention to the number of actions and verbs in verses 2-8) and turns out to be a polite, generous and energetic host. Later, it turns out that his guests are not ordinary people but rather angels who bring good news, the first of which is the birth of Isaac. \u00a0Abraham, however, was not previously aware of their status when he hosted them.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><b>The second incident (verses 16-33):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> God shares with Abraham His plan to destroy the sinful cities Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham turns out to be a man with a sophisticated sense of justice (\u201cShall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?\u201d - 18:25). He strongly opposes the collective punishment in which the innocent will die with the guilty and tries to transform the decree to collective salvation, according to which the merit of the righteous in Sodom saves the entire city. Abraham conducts serious and decisive negotiations and tries to bring God to acquit the city if there is a minimum number of \u00a0righteous people who would salvage the rest of the population (that number is ten, but even ten righteous people could not be found in Sodom).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Points to ponder:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The chapter begins with the revelation of God to Abraham, \"the Lord appeared to him\" (verse 1) and immediately shifts to the guests who visit Abraham. Does Abraham have to choose between an experience in the Divine realm and an act of hospitality? (Jewish tradition understood from here that \"hospitality is greater than greeting God\u2019s presence.\") Alternatively, are the guests (the angels) the Divine revelation?<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The biblical culinary corner: In verses 6-8 you will find first-rate delicacies: flour cakes, curds, milk, a calf.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Midrash says that Abraham the host exemplifies the behavior of one who \"says little but does much.\u201d How so? Look at how \"little\" he says in verse 5 and how much he does in verses 6-8.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The second set of laughter that accompanies the birth of Isaac is the laughter of Sarah (verse 12), who laughs to herself in disbelief (a laugh that only angels can hear).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Verse 17 - Don\u2019t miss this: God acts towards Abraham as if he is a true partner, from whom He keeps no secrets: \"Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, we get the answer to the question - why did God choose Abraham and what does God want from him: \"For I have singled him out, that he may instruct his children and his posterity to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is just and right\u201d (verse 19). \u00a0To do justice and righteousness. Remember that!<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"The Daily Summary","tile_main_caption":"Points to Ponder: Genesis 18","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Insights and questions for personal reflection and group discussion","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Genesis","chapter":"18","chapter_main_number":"18","date":"20250923","wall_id":"18"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false}],"hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"static_cube_title":"","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/36934"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/wall"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36934"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}