Parshas Vayeira: Divine Justice

This week’s Torah portion, Vayeira: Bereishit (Genesis) 18:1 - 22:24, chronicles powerful spiritual growth in the life of Abraham. Continuing last week’s narrative, three days after Abraham circumcises himself he receives four visitors. First, God reveals His presence, and shortly afterward 3 angels masquerading as men arrive on his doorstep. A truly self-effacing gentleman. Abraham prioritizes the needs of the visitors over spiritual self interest. He leaves the presence of the Almighty to see to his guests. 

Unfazed by Abraham’s quick departure, God loves him more than ever. In Genesis 18:18-19, He says, “…I love Abraham so much that I have promised him that he will surely become a great and mighty nation, and through him all the nations of the world will be blessed. I have promised him these blessings for I cherish him, and I cherish him because he instructs his children and his household after him to keep God’s ways by acting with righteousness and justice so that they will earn My blessings.”

When Abraham learns that Sodom will be destroyed, he bargains with God to spare the city if only a few righteous people live there. Not even 10 can be identified. Our rabbis teach us that in addition to out of control sexual impropriety, the people of Sodom actually make selflessness a capital crime! Anyone giving aid and comfort to the poor and needy receives the death penalty.

Fireballs and sulfuric acid rain down on Sodom. Everyone perishes except Lot and his daughters, who think they are the only humans left on earth. They assume responsibility for re-establishing the human race by drowning Lot’s inhibitions in alcohol. They each produce a son, whose descendants become two of the Canaanite tribes destined to cross paths with the Israelites as they enter the Holy Land.

As promised, Abraham and Sarah produce a son, Isaac. When Isaac turns 38 years old, his father passes the ultimate spiritual test of faith and surrender to God when he obeys the order to sacrifice Isaac as he would an animal sacrifice. At the final moment, God stays the execution. Isaac lives. Abraham experiences great joy in both his willingness to do God’s will and Isaac’s reprieve.

Judaism places much attention on circumcision as a rite of passage for boys. The physical ritual reflects a spiritual principle of self abnegation necessary for true connection with God, the heart and soul of Jewish life for both men and women. Until we become willing to sacrifice our selfishness, a true relationship with our Creator eludes us. 

Our Haftarah portion this week, Melachim II (II Kings) 4:1-37, nourishes our spirit with stories of great faith and proof of God’s presence in our lives. The prophet Elisha helps a widow avoid indenturing her sons to pay her debts. He promises an elderly married couple a baby and they conceive a son, a story very similar to that in our Torah portion. The toddler dies suddenly from a neurological event and Elisha restores his life.

As Genesis 18:19 reveals, Torah encourages us to act in a righteous manner according to Divine justice. Divine justice considers life the highest priority. We know this from Torah, a moral document calling for the sanctity of the human being made in God’s image. Laws embodied in Torah protect and promote life, not death. Divine justice is not served when people contribute time and money to help vulnerable parents destroy their pre-born babies. It is served when people contribute time and resources to help vulnerable parents choose life. Everyone benefits, first the baby, then the family, the community, and the nation. 

The prophet, Elisha, and our patriarch, Abraham, give their time and resources to promote and save life. Death is not in the minds of these righteous men, nor should it be in ours. When godliness fills our minds, we can think and act only for life. Secular thinking, no matter how well intentioned, can turn deadly when used to justify killing babies in the pursuit of ‘saving lives’, ’alleviating suffering’, or ‘serving the needy.’

To earn God’s blessings, we must make efforts to help others according to Divine justice. Beyond that self interested motive, we can rise to Abraham’s spiritual level by acting for life in joyful service to our Creator. It’s so simply stated in Micah 5:8, He has told you, “O man, what is good, and what the Lord demands of you; but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”

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Cecily Routman

May there be abundant peace from Heaven, and good life upon us and upon all Israel. Amen.