The Destruction of Sodom

Found 22 Search results

  1. Avraham and the Angels

    Rabbi Amnon Bazak

    "And God appeared to him" - why? What is the relationship between God's revelation and the revelation of the angels? This lesson explores Rashbam's unique approach, and the connection between the two revelations: the promise of a son and the destruction of Sodom.

  2. Creation Anew

    Rabbi Zeev Weitman

    After mankind was corrupted, God regrets creating man, and destroys every living thing. The renewal of the world after the flood is described as a re-creation of the world. Is the new world more successful than the first? What is the relationship between Noah's drunkenness and Adam's sin? Is there a relationship between Lot's drunkenness after the destruction of Sodom and Noah's drunkenness after the destruction of the world?

  3. Rashbam's Interpretation of the Story of Avraham and the Angels

    Rabbi Elchanan Samet

    The story at the start of Parashat Vayera seems to be a continuation of the story in Lekh Lekha. Is the story indeed a continuation of the previous chapter? Were the people who visited Avraham people or angels? This lesson explores the Rashbam's commentary on Parashat Vayera.

  4. The Way of God and the Way of Righteousness and Justice

    Rabbi Yaakov Medan

    What is the relationship between Emunah and Chessed in Avraham's spiritual world? This lesson discusses the Covenant of Circumcision, Avraham's hospitality toward the angels, Avraham's argument about Sodom, and Akeidat Yitzchak in an attempt to answer this question.

  5. The Salvation of Lot

    Prof. Jonathan Grossman

    The angels that arrive at Sodom seem to fill a dual purpose: they save Lot and destroy the city. However, they are given a preliminary task of examining the city, to see whether righteous people can be found within. The townspeople teach the angels about the culture of the city while they were hosted in Lot's house. Why was Lot saved, when God had told Avraham that if ten righteous people were not found in the city the entire city would be destroyed?

  6. The Prophet in Prayer

    Sharón Rimón

    What exactly does God reveal to Avraham before the destruction of Sodom? Why does God feel the need to reveal His plans to Avraham? Does God tell him He is going to destroy Sodom, or is he only informed that God is planning on judging Sodom? What is the purpose of the prophet? How is his role expressed in the prayers of Moshe and Jeremiah?

  7. Avraham and the Angels

    Rabbi Ezra Bick

    What is the significance of God's direct revelation to Avraham? And what is the significance of the revelation of angels? What was the change Avraham underwent after the Covenant of Circumcision? How is this change reflected in the subsequent stories?

  8. God's Revelation to Avraham

    Rabbi Zeev Weitman

    What is the purpose of God's revelation to Avraham in the beginning of Parashat Vaera? What is the relationship between this revelation and the Covenant of Circumcision? What does Sara's laughter express, and why is she criticized for her laughter? And what is the significance of Avraham's prayer for Sodom?

  9. God Descends to Judge Sodom - Seeking the Good

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  10. Avraham's Mission

    Rabbi Shalom Berger

    We find a "correction" in Vayera of several problematic episodes in Lekh Lekha.

    The "atonement" is the acceptance that it is God who is in charge, and that it is God's promises and covenants that are eternal and are to be relied upon. God's promise of a permanent relationship with Avraham's descendants in the land that He promised can only be realized when Avraham (and his descendants) recognize their responsibility and obligation to His covenants.

    The blessings of the nations are dependent on Avraham and his descendants taking their rightful place in the world. Avraham must recognize his place and the place of his family in the land, and he must teach them of the covenants - the personal and national britot with God - through which God can keep His promises to Avraham's descendants; thus, he will offer blessings to all of the nations of the world.

  11. Sedom and Avraham's Home: Two Different Worlds

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  12. Dust and Ashes: Avraham, the Red Heifer, and the Sota

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  13. Lot's Daughters: Real Fears and Drastic Measures

  14. Avraham Established the Morning Prayer

    Rabbi Yair Kahn

    After Sedom and Amora were destroyed, Avraham woke up and returned to the spot where he had argued and appealed to Hashem on behalf of the people of Sedom the previous day. He gazed at the valley that was once a populated metropolis and saw thick smoke rising from the land, like the smoke of a furnace.

    How did Avraham react? Was he angry? Did he scream at God and charge Him with injustice? Or did he accept the inscrutable will of God with humility, but felt nonetheless that all his unanswered prayers were pointless? According to our Rabbis, Avraham chose a third approach. He prayed. In his humility, he recognized that although Hashem is not bound to answer all our prayers, He nevertheless listens. With profound devotion, he understood that we pray not only out of need, expecting Hashem to respond, but also as a meaningful act of worship.

  15. Sedom: Institutionalized Corruption

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  16. Vayera and Vayigash: Avraham's Approach to Sodom

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  17. Looking for the Good in Sodom

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  18. The Exodus of Lot and the Exodus of Bnei Yisrael

  19. The Cry of Sodom

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  20. Ramban

    Part 2

    Dr. Avigail Rock

    This lesson is dedicated to a number of philosophical topics that recur throughout the Ramban’s commentary on the Torah.

    Maaseh Avot Siman Lebanim – The events that transpire with the forefathers is an omen for the children.

    This historical view of the Ramban is of great significance, not just in the field of exegesis, but also because it has such a clear polemical anti-Christian aim. Indeed there is an allusion to the future in the stories of the forefathers, but the allusion is for Israel’s future — what is decreed upon their seed — but not for others, who are not of their seed.

    The Superiority of the Land of Israel

    The superiority of the Land of Israel predates Avraham and to the People of Israel. The overturning of Sodom was due to the superiority of the Land of Israel. As opposed to the other lands of the worlds that are managed by angelic representatives of God, the Land of Israel is managed by God directly.

    The main significance of the fulfillment of commandments is in the Land of Israel.

    Nissayon – Test

    The test is designed to serve not the Tester, God, but rather the one who is being tested. The nissayon in the Torah is an opportunity which is provided for the righteous to apply in practice their dedication to God and to earn a reward for this. In this way, they will receive a reward not only for their potential dedication, but for their actual dedication as is described with regard to Akeidat Yitzhak and the mann.

  21. Parshat Vayera Part 3: Escape from Sedom

    Rabbi Alex Israel | 32 minutes

    Chapter 19 describes the destruction of Sodom and Lot’s escape. This podcast compares Avraham’s hospitality at the beginning of Parshat Vayera with the hospitality Lot shows the angels in Sodom, and attempts to analyze Lot’s character through a close examination of the text and classical commentaries.  

    Courtesy of www.tanachstudy.com

  22. Righteousness and Rescue: Noah, Lot and the Two Stories of the Flood

    Rabbi Chanoch Waxman

    תאריך פרסום: 2022 | | Hour and 5 minutes

    In this lecture, we will attempt to provide a new perspective on the classic question of the “righteousness” of Noah. Together we will make a careful comparison of the central characters and motifs of both the flood narrative and the story of the destruction of Sedom. Diving into the different missions Noach received from God, and whether or not he was successful.