B"H
Cheshvan 14, 5766 * November 16, 2005
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T H E P A R S H A H I N A N U T S H E L L
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TORAH PORTION: Vayeira (Genesis 18:1-22:24)
Torah Reading for Week of November 13-19, 2005
On the Web: http://chabad.org/Article.asp?AID=3171
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G-d reveals Himself to Abraham three days after the first Jew's circumcision at age 99; but Abraham rushes off to prepare a meal for three guests who appear in the desert heat. One of the three -- who are angels disguised as men -- announces that, in exactly one year, the barren Sarah will give birth to a son. Sarah laughs.
Abraham pleads with G-d to spare the wicked city of Sodom. Two of the three disguised angels arrive in the doomed city, where Abraham's nephew, Lot, extends his hospitality to them and protects them from the evil intentions of a Sodomite mob. The two guests reveal that they have come to overturn the place, and to save Lot and his family. Lot's wife turns into a pillar of salt when she disobeys the command not to look back at the burning city as they flee.
While taking shelter in a cave, Lot's two daughters (believing that they and their father are the only ones left alive in the world) get their father drunk, lie with him, and become pregnant. The two sons born from this incident father the nations of Moab and Amon.
Abraham moves to Gerar, where the Philistine king Avimelech takes Sarah -- who is presented as Abraham's sister -- to his palace. In a dream, G-d warns Avimelech that he will die unless he returns the woman to her husband. Abraham explains that he feared he would be killed over the beautiful Sarah.
G-d remembers His promise to Sarah and gives her and Abraham a son, who is named Isaac (Yitzchak, meaning "will laugh"). Isaac is circumcised at the age of eight days; Abraham is 100 years old, and Sarah 90, at their child's birth.
Hagar and Ishmael are banished from Abraham's home and wander in the desert; G-d hears the cry of the dying lad and saves his life by showing his mother a well. Avimelech makes a treaty with Abraham at Be'er Sheva, where Abraham gives him seven sheep as a sign of their truce.
G-d tests Abraham's devotion by commanding him to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah (the Temple Mount) in Jerusalem. Isaac is bound and placed on the altar, and Abraham raises the knife to slaughter his son. A voice from heaven calls to stop him; a ram, caught in the undergrowth by its horns, is offered in Isaac's place. Abraham receives the news of the birth of a daughter, Rebecca, to his nephew Bethuel.
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FROM THE WORDS OF OUR SAGES ON THE PARSHAH:
-Because I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him that they shall keep the way of G-d, to do charity and justice."... (18:19)
Said the Divine Attribute of Love: "As long as Abraham was around, there was nothing for me to do, for he did my work in my stead." (Sefer HaBahir)
-And it came to pass after these things, that G-d did test Abraham (22:1)
Said Rabbi Jonathan: A potter does not examine defective vessels, because he cannot give them a single blow without breaking them. What then does he examine? Only the sound vessels, for he will not break them even with many blows. Similarly, the Holy One, blessed be He, tests not the wicked but the righteous. (Midrash Rabbah)
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