When you Choose Shabbat, you choose to learn that every Shabbat is different and special. This week I learned about Parashat Vayera (וַיֵּרָא) – Genesis 18:1 through 22:24 – the fourth weekly Torah portion in the annual cycle of Torah readings.
According to Wikipedia, Vayera (aka Vayeira or Va-yera) has the most words (but not the most letters or verses) of any of the weekly Torah portions in the Book of Genesis; its word-count is second only to Parashat Naso in the entire Torah. Vayera is made up of 7,862 Hebrew letters, 2,085 words, 147 verses, and 252 lines of the Torah Scroll. The other Book of Genesis record holders are Parashat Miketz with the most letters and a tie between Parashiyot Noach and Vayishlach for the most verses.
Vayera ebbs and flows like a Stephen King novel, filled with multiple intertwined narratives of an interrelated cadre of complex characters; a multilayered tapestry of supernatural story lines that slowly build to a cataclysmic firestorm finale. Cutaway to domestic bliss that morphs into a complex family dynamic and a pointed plotline of epic proportion that sets the stage for a sequel. Read about Abraham’s three mysterious visitors and how Abraham literally bargained with G-d over the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. Hear the twisted tale of Lot and his salty wife as well as the scandalous secret of Lot’s daughters. Learn about the miraculous birth of Isaac and the expulsion of Hagar and her son Ishmael, leading to a heart stopping climax with the binding of Isaac (הָעֲקֵידָה, the Akedah).
Rabbi Michael D Klein of Temple Torat Emet offers his insights on this week’s Torah reading, Vayera for Shabbat November 16, 2024 aka 15 Cheshvan 5785:
“We know from the text of last week and this week that our ancestor Avraham was tested by G-d 10 times. The ultimate test of Avraham’s faith occurs in this week’s Torah Portion. The Akedah-the binding of Isaac presents us with a perplexing narrative. After many years of barrenness, Avraham and Sara bear a son in their old age. Avraham and Sarah have been blessed with great wealth and stature and are highly respected by the other inhabitants of Canaan, many of whom become followers of belief in one G-d.
Almost inconceivably, G-d tests Avraham one final time by commanding him to bring his son Isaac to Mount Moriah and sacrifice him on an altar which he will build. Certainly, this was a test of faith that is beyond normal human comprehension. Furthermore, Avraham and Isaac are tested along the way by various obstacles placed in their path and finally reach their destination. Avraham binds his son to the altar and is ready to take his life when an angel sent by G-d speaks to him and instructs him not to take his son’s life but instead to sacrifice a ram which has gotten stuck by the horns in a nearby thicket. Thus, we use a ram’s horn on Rosh Hashanah to remind us that we too are tested all through the year, and like Avraham, hopefully accounted as being worthy.
As I reread this story, I began to think of the many ways that we are all faced with seemingly insurmountable tests throughout our lives. This past year, all the horrific events which have transpired in Israel and the mounting anti-Israel and anti-Jewish attacks which have taken place, have tested our commitment and our faith that G-d is with us and cares about each of us.
We all face personally trying events of sadness and illness in our lives and each event represents a challenge to our belief and faith in G-d. May G-d grant us the courage and wisdom to face whatever life brings us with the understanding that G-d does care about every individual and gives us the inner strength to cope with every challenge in our lives as G-d did for Avraham and Sarah.
Questions to Consider:
- How old was Isaac during the story of the Akedah?
- Where do Avraham and Isaac go after the Akedah?
- Because of what kindness was Lot’s life saved?
- What were the tasks of the three angels who appeared to Avraham? Why did the task o the 3rd angel appear to be doubled?
Rabbi Michael D. Klein attended Yeshiva College of South Florida and served as Torah Reader, Hebrew teacher, Chazzan and spiritual leader of various synagogues throughout South Florida. In January 2015 he became Ritual Director, Bnai/Bnot Mitzvah instructor and 7th grade Hebrew instructor for Temple Torat Emet of Boynton Beach. In October 2019 he was accepted into an accelerated track and received his smicha from Yeshiva Adath Wolkowisk and has been the Rabbinic leadership of Temple Torat Emet since August 2020. In September of 2022 he was appointed Rabbinic and Spiritual Advisor of the Florida Region of FJMC.
Choose Shabbat; choose to celebrate, to light candles, sing songs and learn a little Torah.
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