Vayera

Genesis 18:1-22:24

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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
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

 

 

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Return to the index of weekly Torah portions.

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