Parshat Vayera begins and ends with the promise of children, of continuity,  to Avraham and Sarah. In the middle we encounter the destruction of Sodom and the expulsion of Yishmael. The question of who will carry on Avraham and Sarah’s traditions, character and leadership, underlies these narratives. The parsha’s bitter-sweet mixture of justice, loving-kindness and sacrifice for the land of Israel continues to be the mission of the Jewish nation. 

The story of Lot’s welcoming guests in Sodom, at first appears to parallel Avaraham’s welcoming of guests to his tent. Yet numerous subtle (and explicit) differences highlight that Lot has not truly internalized Avraham’s values. While Avraham and Lot both welcome guests, Lot merely arises, while Avraham runs to them. Avraham and Sarah and the whole household are recruited to honor the guests, whereas Lot’s family are absent. Finally, Lot has the audacity to offer his daughters to the mobs outside his house in place of the guests. Beneath the surface of Lot’s kindness is a warped and broken sense of justice and righteousness. Though a nephew to Avraham, Lot fails to carry on his ways.

Similarly with Yishmael. After Yitzchak is born and weaned, Sarah catches Yishmael “playing.” The midrash points out the sinister nature of this phrasing (which also appears in the Sodom story) when it teaches that Yishmael was actually shooting arrows at Yitzchak. This is not mere playing, it is violence and immoral behavior framed as “playing.” Yishmael, Avraham’s child, subscribed to “tarbut ra’ah” and does not carry on Avraham’s ways of justice and righteousness. One midrashic tradition however, depicts Yishmael later repenting, and his household practicing the mitzvah of welcoming guests, welcoming Avraham.

The parsha’s message is clear. Those who disguise immorality and evil with fake kindness pose a danger to our moral compass. The antidote: continuing in the ruach (spirit of) Avraham – justice, authentic chesed and devotion to Israel. Today’s Avrahams are our dear chayalim, whose ruach, bravery and love for Israel and each other is boundless. May the memory of those we lost be for a blessing and may Hashem protect them all. Shabbat Shalom -Karen Miller Jackson