{"id":37144,"date":"2018-07-09T18:49:52","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T15:49:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-19\/"},"modified":"2022-03-02T09:22:10","modified_gmt":"2022-03-02T07:22:10","slug":"wall-19","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-19\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Torah-Genesis-19"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"19","date":"20250924","book":"Genesis","chapter":"19","chapter_main_number":"19","books_group":"Torah","hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"posts":[{"order":1,"id":"39801","color":"#faeed8","size":"1","name":"Genesis 19 - Judy Hammond ","post_title":"Genesis 19 - Judy Hammond","slug":"genesis-19-judy-hammond","old_id":"39801","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":"19","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 19","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-19-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":"19","chapter_main_number":"19","date":"20250924","wall_id":"19"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"102517","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"1","name":"Openings And Closings ","post_title":"Openings And Closings","slug":"openings-and-closings","old_id":"102517","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":78133,"post_title":"Josh Blechner","slug":"josh-blechner","old_id":"78133","first_name":"Josh ","last_name":"Blechner ","description":"Josh first finished the Tanach during Yeshiva in Mevaseret Zion. 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":"19","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"When Abraham opens a tent flap, Lot shuts a door\u00a0\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Chapter 19 is the rare chapter of the Torah where a main character is not the star. This is Lot\u2019s chapter. Until this point, Lot has been mostly passive. He travels with his uncle Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees for unknown reasons. He follows him around and becomes wealthy. He requests to live in Sodom, but only because Abraham gives the option. After that, he is captured in the war of the kings and then saved by his uncle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Now we are given a chance to learn about Lot up close. Chapter 19 comes directly after 18 to give us the opportunity to compare Lot\u2019s actions with Abraham\u2019s. In the first few verses we see the similarities between the two: both sit outside their respective abodes, both rush to great strangers passing by and invite them in, and both Lot and Abraham prepare a feast.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But there are also differences: Lot does everything on his own. Abraham enlists Sarah and the \u201cyoung lad.\u201d Abraham lives in his tent away from others. Lot lives in a house in the middle of Sodom. This house becomes the central part of the mob scene. Notice how many times the word \u201cdoor\u201d appears in the story. \u201cSo Lot went out to them to the entrance, shut the <\/span>door<\/span><\/em> behind him\u201d(verse 6), \u201cAnd they pressed hard against that <\/span>householder<\/span><\/em> \u2014against Lot\u2014and moved forward to break the <\/span>door<\/span><\/em>\u201d(verse 9), \u201cBut the messengers stretched out their hands and pulled Lot into the <\/span>house<\/span><\/em> with them, and shut the <\/span>door<\/span><\/em>\u201d(verse 10), and \u201cAnd the people who were at the entrance of the house (the <\/span>door<\/span><\/em>), low and high alike, they struck with blinding light, so that they were helpless to find the entrance (the <\/span>door<\/span><\/em>)\u201d(verse 11).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Why is the door such a central figure here? Again, this compares with Abraham\u2019s tent. The tent has no door. It is a structure of fabric that is essentially open to the world. Abraham positions himself without fear of the outside world. He is confident in God\u2019s protection. Lot needs the door. He positions himself in a very difficult situation and requires a stable house that can be closed off from those around him. He does not have the confidence in God to protect him.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This is apparent even when the messengers come to save him. Lot is frozen in panic as he is ordered to flee quickly (as noted by the long drawn-out <\/span>shalshelet <\/span><\/i>note above the word \u201c\u05d5\u05b7\u05bd\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05ea\u05b0\u05de\u05b7\u05d4\u05b0\u05de\u05b8\u0593\u05d4\u05bc\u201d <\/span>vayitmahmah<\/span><\/em>,<\/span><\/i> \u201cand he delayed\u201d), and then pleads for a safe location close by. Despite years with Abraham, Lot is not able to reach his heights.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And so, at the end of the chapter, Abraham merely glances over the smoldering valley and finally walks away from his nephew. 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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":"19","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Lot\u2019s wife now faces a sea of death\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

\u201cHis [Lot\u2019s] wife looked back; and she became a pillar of salt.\u201d<\/em> (Genesis 19:26 )
\r\n
\r\n<\/p>\r\n

after the upheaval
\r\nafter the fire and brimstone<\/p>\r\n

Lot\u2019s wife \u2014 petrified like an extinct bird:
\r\nFossilized wings entrapped in a pillar of salt,
\r\nFossilized beak unable to emit a sound,
\r\nFossilized eyes that forever focus
\r\nOn what once was.
\r\n
\r\nLot\u2019s wife, in silence of stone, mourns
\r\nHer mansion of gold-tinted frescoes,
\r\nHer pendants of bronze and turquoise,
\r\nHer tables of imported sandalwood,
\r\nHer plates of ivory.
\r\n
\r\nLot\u2019s wife now faces a sea of death
\r\nFlooding her city of silver.
\r\nHer sandstone ears hear nothing, and her back
\r\nTurns away from two fleeing daughters, from her husband
\r\nCrying out her name.<\/p>\r\n

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ambiguous tzaddik, he too is saved from divine destruction. And yet....","post_main_content_content":"

Reading the first chapters about Abraham the Patriarch reminded me of a midrash that appears earlier, in Rashi's commentary on Noah, whom the Torah describes as a <\/span>tzaddik<\/span><\/i> 'in his generations' . Rashi quotes a critical rabbincal opinion regarding Noah's righteousness: 'According to his generation he was a <\/span>tzaddik<\/span><\/i>, however, had he lived in Abraham's generation he wouldn't have been considered anything'<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What makes Rashi so sure that Noah, in Abraham's generation wouldn't have been valued?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The answer, I think lies in these chapters. There indeed lived a 'Noah' in Abraham's generation! His name was Lot. There are many similarities between Lot and Noah, even as, naturally, there are differences as well. Lot lived in a society that resembled Noah's generation: Sodom may be considered a microcosm of the 'generation of the flood' \u2013 a society where selfishness, violence and illicit and offensive sexual acts reign. In this society Lot is exceptional, maybe a 'tzaddik'. Indeed, like Noah, when that evil society is destroyed God makes sure to save Lot from his neighbors' terrible fate. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

However, regarding Lot's redemption an interesting verse catches the eye: 'And God remembered <\/span>Abraham<\/span><\/em>, and sent Lot from the destruction\u2026' (19:29) . It is almost impossible not to compare this to the parallel verse regarding Noah \u2013 'And God remembered <\/span>Noah<\/span><\/em>\u2026 and the waters were assuaged\u2026' (8:1). \u00a0In Noah's generation God remembers Noah himself and saves him. In Lot's case \u2013 he is 'not considered', rather he is saved as a consequence of God remembering Abraham!<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":102015,"alt":"","title":"-620a6abd51400--620a6abd51401gen8-abraham noah window.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/620a6abd51400-620a6abd51401gen8-abraham-noah-window.jpg.jpg","width":422,"height":541,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/620a6abd51400-620a6abd51401gen8-abraham-noah-window.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/620a6abd51400-620a6abd51401gen8-abraham-noah-window.jpg-234x300.jpg","medium-width":234,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/620a6abd51400-620a6abd51401gen8-abraham-noah-window.jpg.jpg","medium_large-width":422,"medium_large-height":541,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/620a6abd51400-620a6abd51401gen8-abraham-noah-window.jpg.jpg","large-width":422,"large-height":541,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/620a6abd51400-620a6abd51401gen8-abraham-noah-window.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":422,"1536x1536-height":541,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/620a6abd51400-620a6abd51401gen8-abraham-noah-window.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":422,"2048x2048-height":541,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/620a6abd51400-620a6abd51401gen8-abraham-noah-window.jpg.jpg","post_full_size-width":422,"post_full_size-height":541,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/620a6abd51400-620a6abd51401gen8-abraham-noah-window.jpg-328x420.jpg","home_baner-width":328,"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":"Lot: The Noah of Abraham's Generation","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"An ambiguous tzaddik, he too is saved from divine destruction. 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A story about daughters and their father, and about Israel and two neighbor nations<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Are Lot's nameless daughters mad or sane? Getting their father drunk so they can couple with him and steal his sperm?! Leaving aside, momentarily, the question what they thought was happening in the rest of the world, and why they thought this was the only chance for them to procreate, I'll focus on the matter of them raping their father.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

On one hand, is this not an act of revenge against their own father who was willing to throw them to the howling mob for the sole purpose of gang rape? But \u2013 why would <\/span>their<\/span><\/em> raping their sorry excuse for a father satisfy that need? Seeing it thus would, at most, present the <\/span>poetic<\/span><\/em> justice of their acts, \"measure for measure\", meted out to the \"Righteous Man of Sodom\", but would not give a victim the lost sense of protection and vindication she needs.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Aside from the obvious fact that this story is clearly told from a male perspective, we must recognize that its purpose is external to itself: Abravanel says: \u00a0\"This story was told to teach the closeness of these two nations, Ammon and Moab, with Israel, and therefore [i.e., lest we get too chummy with them] The Blessed One commanded \"No Ammonite or Moabite shall be admitted into the congregation of the Lord ... \" (Deut. 23:4).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We can bring proof for this understanding of the story of Lot and his daughters from the preceding verse in Deuteronomy 23:2 which states that \"no one <\/span>misbegotten<\/span><\/em> shall be admitted into the congregation of the Lord.\"<\/span><\/p>\r\n

If so, the story in Genesis 19 is not about the pursuit of justice revenge by the daughters of Lot, but an etiological story which explains the necessary future estrangement, and frequently, animosity, between Israel and its two cousin \u2013 nations. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image:\u00a0Lot and His Daughters by Artemisia Gentileschi, c. 1635-38 \/ wikipedia<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":102527,"alt":"","title":"-621dd4d695f6d--621dd4d695f6egen19-Gentileschi,_Artemisia_-_Lot_and_his_Daughters.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621dd4d695f6d-621dd4d695f6egen19-Gentileschi_Artemisia_-_Lot_and_his_Daughters.jpg.jpg","width":800,"height":998,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621dd4d695f6d-621dd4d695f6egen19-Gentileschi_Artemisia_-_Lot_and_his_Daughters.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621dd4d695f6d-621dd4d695f6egen19-Gentileschi_Artemisia_-_Lot_and_his_Daughters.jpg-240x300.jpg","medium-width":240,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621dd4d695f6d-621dd4d695f6egen19-Gentileschi_Artemisia_-_Lot_and_his_Daughters.jpg-768x958.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":958,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621dd4d695f6d-621dd4d695f6egen19-Gentileschi_Artemisia_-_Lot_and_his_Daughters.jpg.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":998,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621dd4d695f6d-621dd4d695f6egen19-Gentileschi_Artemisia_-_Lot_and_his_Daughters.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":998,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621dd4d695f6d-621dd4d695f6egen19-Gentileschi_Artemisia_-_Lot_and_his_Daughters.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":998,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621dd4d695f6d-621dd4d695f6egen19-Gentileschi_Artemisia_-_Lot_and_his_Daughters.jpg.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":998,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621dd4d695f6d-621dd4d695f6egen19-Gentileschi_Artemisia_-_Lot_and_his_Daughters.jpg-337x420.jpg","home_baner-width":337,"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 Rape of Lot","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A story about daughters and their father, and about Israel and two neighbor nations","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":102527,"alt":"","title":"-621dd4d695f6d--621dd4d695f6egen19-Gentileschi,_Artemisia_-_Lot_and_his_Daughters.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621dd4d695f6d-621dd4d695f6egen19-Gentileschi_Artemisia_-_Lot_and_his_Daughters.jpg.jpg","width":800,"height":998,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621dd4d695f6d-621dd4d695f6egen19-Gentileschi_Artemisia_-_Lot_and_his_Daughters.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621dd4d695f6d-621dd4d695f6egen19-Gentileschi_Artemisia_-_Lot_and_his_Daughters.jpg-240x300.jpg","medium-width":240,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621dd4d695f6d-621dd4d695f6egen19-Gentileschi_Artemisia_-_Lot_and_his_Daughters.jpg-768x958.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":958,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621dd4d695f6d-621dd4d695f6egen19-Gentileschi_Artemisia_-_Lot_and_his_Daughters.jpg.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":998,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621dd4d695f6d-621dd4d695f6egen19-Gentileschi_Artemisia_-_Lot_and_his_Daughters.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":998,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621dd4d695f6d-621dd4d695f6egen19-Gentileschi_Artemisia_-_Lot_and_his_Daughters.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":998,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621dd4d695f6d-621dd4d695f6egen19-Gentileschi_Artemisia_-_Lot_and_his_Daughters.jpg.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":998,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/08\/621dd4d695f6d-621dd4d695f6egen19-Gentileschi_Artemisia_-_Lot_and_his_Daughters.jpg-337x420.jpg","home_baner-width":337,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"THE BURNING OF SODOM, by Camille Corot, 1843-57, French painting, oil on canvas. This was exhibited at the Paris Salon of 1857. 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","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33860,"alt":"Avidan Freedman","title":"Avidan Freedman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365.jpg","width":856,"height":1024,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-251x300.jpg","medium-width":251,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-768x919.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":919,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-856x1024.jpg","large-width":856,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365.jpg","1536x1536-width":856,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365.jpg","2048x2048-width":856,"2048x2048-height":1024,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-800x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-351x420.jpg","home_baner-width":351,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"19","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Does our kindness, our charity, our giving, fit our own needs, or is it truly responsive to the other?","post_main_content_content":"

Sodom- the archetype of biblical evil. But strip away your stereotypes for a minute and take a careful look at what the Torah describes- what was so evil about Sodom? The emphasis of chapter 19, taken as a unit, paints the picture of a culture of coercive kindness, a society evil in the way it does good. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

It begins with Lot, stubbornly insisting the angels stay with him, despite their reluctance. Lot knows exactly what's best for them, outlining in great detail the parameters of their stay. The coerciveness of his hospitality is underscored by the Torah's repetition of the word describing Lot's insistence that it uses for the people of Sodom's \"generous\" offer, which can almost be read innocently. \"Bring them out so that we may get to know them!\" Certainly, the intention is sinister, but you can almost hear their moral claim:\"how dare you monopolize these visitors for yourself?\" <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Lot's response continues his Sodomite \"generosity\", offering his daughters, who, we might guess, did not volunteer themselves. As the chapter closes, Lot's daughters return the favor, raping their father for the good of mankind. They have clearly internalized the dark heart of Sodom, which expresses itself not in evil acts committed as much as in egocentric kindness that is extended without empathy, without real care for the other. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The rabbis encapsulated this attitude perfectly in the image of the \"Procrustean bed\", which cuts down or stretches out the recipient of kindness in response to the giver's needs. This, then, is Sodom's personal challenge to us. Is our kindness egocentric? Do we define the Good and then force our definition on others? Does our kindness, our charity, our giving, fit our own needs, or is it truly responsive to the other?<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":102532,"alt":"","title":"-621ddaa672fd8--621ddaa672fdagen19-procrustean bed 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His first book \"I Kings - Torn in Two\" was published in 2013. 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Chapter 18 opens with Abraham sitting at the entrance to his tent. Almost immediately, wayfarers pass by and we witness an account of Abraham\u2019s enthusiastic hospitality. The words \u201crun\u201d, \u201cquick\u201d are repeated over and over as Abraham hurries to attend to the strangers' every need. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

In a parallel scene of ch.19, we witness Lot's hospitality, which mirrors that of his uncle Abraham:<\/span><\/p>\r\n