Friday November1,1996                                        Erev Shabbat
Cheshvan 19, 5757

Vayaira (Genesis 18:1-22:24)

Something to think about:
This week's reading contains a number of events familiar to those with a
Bible-story background.  We have the three visiting angels, the destruction
of Sodom, the birth of Isaac and the dramatic story of the binding of Isaac.
 
Each event deserves ones attention and pages of commentary have been written
about each.

Let us consider the introduction to the destruction story.  As usual, I
would like to focus on a part of the story, easily overlooked.  Abraham
argues with G-d in order to save the cities.  If there are "x" many
righteous or "y" many righteous, would you still destroy the city?  Who
is Abraham trying to save? 

The righteous? No!  He is clearly using the tzaddikim (righteous) as a
means to save the wicked. 

We look at Abraham as the patriarch and paragon of chesed (kindness).  We
expect someone of a spiritual quality to welcome the saintly and challenge
Hashem on behalf of the good.  But Abraham's tent welcomes the idolater. 
 
Abraham argues with G-d to save the immoral.  Clearly if we are to use
Abraham as a role model we must learn to extend out acts of kindness to those
who don^Òt deserve it.  We must also pray for those who might even laugh at
our prayers.  We must be willing to battle with the heavens even to save the
lives of those that do not recognize heaven.

There is a Talmudic story in which the wife of Rabbi Meir corrects her
husband, "Do not pray for the destruction of the wicked, rather pray for the
destruction of wickedness."  This is the legacy of our father, Abraham.  This
kind of love formed the foundation of our people.  When our patience is
fading remember, G-d has put up with this person for years, I can put up with
this for a few minutes!

Candle lighting-5:11
                                                                Shabbat
Ends-6:10
Good Shabbos!!                             Rabbi  Hirsh Michel Chinn