Vayera (Genesis 18:1 - 22:24)
by Rabbi Aaron Goldstein, Outreach Director Liberal Judaism
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Vayera (Genesis 18:1 - 22:24), literally “And (God) appeared,”
includes the appearance of God to Abraham in the form of three
men to foretell of Sarah having Isaac, the story of Sodom &
Gomorrah (including Lot’s wife turning into a pillar of
salt), the fight between Sarah and Hagar and the binding of
Isaac (the Akedah).
Commentary
I used to struggle with the characters of our Matriarchs and
Patriarchs. None are perfect and on face value each one seems
to fall short of being a role model for leading a moral and
ethical life. However, both in ancient times and modern, I have
grown to realise that the person that we could put on a pedastal
is few, far between and usually living a monastic life - therefore
is that living life? When I heard that Bono (someone who I had
looked on as a modern day prophet) had been involved in a court
dispute over ownership of a hat, I took solace that the value
of our ancient ancestors and those whom we admire today as role
models, is that they are worthy of note and consideration warts
and all. In fact, it is the wart or the cowboy hat that actually
makes them real.
Sarah is a case in point. She is subservient to Abraham except
in one episode where she does not seem to act justly: her offering
of Hagar to Abraham as her substitute and then disposal of her
and Ishmael when a substitute is no longer necessary. However,
if one considers the traumas of her life - being uprooted from
her home twice, being offered to strangers twice, living most
of her life with the inability of her and Abraham to conceive
etc. - was it any wonder that she wanted her moment of glory?
Even her gift of Isaac, her child in old age, was taken away
from her by her husband (a midrashic understanding of Sarah's
death being recounted immediately after the Akedah, the binding
of Isaac).
However, I found this reading from Ellen Frankel's 'The Five
Books of Miriam: A Woman's Commentary on the Torah,' that raised
the gloom around my reading of Sarah's life.
"OUR DAUGHTERS ASK: Why doesn't God speak directly to
Sarah? As it is written: [Sarah] WAS LISTENING AT THE ENTRANCE
OF THE TENT, WHICH WAS BEHIND [Abraham] (Gen 18:10). Why does
she only overhear the conversation between God and Abraham,
laughing to herself when she hears one of the strangers announce
that she will bear a child in her old age? And wy does God ask
Abraham, not Sarah: WHY DOES SARAH LAUGH (Gen 18:13)? Is Sarah
being criticised for eavesdropping on men's conversation or
laughing at what they say?
WILY REBECCA ANSWERS: The angels are aware all along that Sarah
is listening in. Even before they begin speaking with Abraham,
they make sure she is nearby in the tent. No, the angels' news
is designed specifically for her - and so is the method of transmission."
May Sarah and we always receive the gift of special messages
just for us, the gift of hearing and receiving them and the
gift of special angels, just for us, our angels when we need
them most.
Rabbi Aaron Goldstein
Outreach Director Liberal Judaism
Assistant Rabbi at Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue
You can ‘catch' Rabbi Aaron Goldstein on 11 November
at Manchester Liberal Jewish Community for Shabbat morning service
at 10:30 am and on 12 November Northwood & Pinner Liberal
Synagogue for I’m Jewish, my partner isn’t’
- a mixed-faith session that will look at the issues involved,
sympathetically and constructively… and examine the options.
Contact Aaron on a.goldstein@liberaljudaism.org
or 07764 192 696
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