Vayera

For full text in English and Hebrew, click here: Genesis 18:1-22:24

In this Torah portion, three guests arrive at Abraham and Sarah’s tent. They inform Abraham that God will give the elderly Sarah a child. The prophesy comes true, and they name their son Isaac. God informs Abraham that Sodom and Gomorrah will be destroyed, though Abraham attempts to convince God otherwise. God tells Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham obliges but is told that it was a test of faith and offers a ram to sacrifice instead.

Click here for a summary of Vayera. Click here for a summary of the Haftarah for Vayera.

Ram from the Akedah

Text Studies	Social Action and Environmentalism
Choosing Man Rabbi Menachem Evan-Israel, Hillel	Challenging the Heavens Alana Alpert, AJWS
Seeing The Ram Rabbi Neal J. Loevinger, KOLEL	Blessings for All Evan Wolkenstein, AJWS
And God Took Note? Rabbi William Dreskin, Union for Reform Judaism	Alone in the Wilderness Rachel Farbiarz, AJWS
	Service And Community–In The Desert Rabbi Jonathan Spira-Savett, socialaction.com
	The Sin of Sodom Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, Canfei Nesharim
From the Denominations	Pluralism and Outreach
Honesty As A Form Of Idolatry Rabbi Bradley Artson, American Jewish University	A Lesson in Hospitality Rabbi Kerry Olitzky, Big Tent Judaism
The Needs of Home and Community Rabbi Joshua Heller, Jewish Theological Seminary	Autonomy Vs. Heteronomy Irwin Kula, CLAL
Laughing At Logic Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz, Orthodox Union	Violence Against Women Judith Plaskow, Women of Reform Judaism
Family and Fun
Parshat Vayera Quiz Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies
Parshat Vayera Challah Julie Seltzer
Parshat Vayera for Families Torah Topics for Today
Being Absolutely Honest Torah Topics for Today
Avoiding Hurting Words Torah Topics for Today

 

b>
Return to the index of weekly Torah portions.

Haftarah

Pronounced: hahf-TOErah or hahf-TOE-ruh, Origin: Hebrew, a selection from one of the biblical books of the Prophets that is read in synagogue immediately following the Torah reading.

Torah

Pronunced: TORE-uh, Origin: Hebrew, the Five Books of Moses.