Parashat Vayera

In Nedarim 32a, the Talmud debates the reason why Abraham’s descendants would eventually be punished by enslavement. The answer given by Rabbi Yochanan points to last week’s parashah when Abraham, while rescuing his nephew Lot, liberated the residents of Sodom who had been taken captive by a different set of kings. The King of Sodom was grateful to have his people back. He offered Abraham all of the loot that was restored in the process, but did not wish to give his people over to become part of Abraham’s clan. Concerned that the King of Sodom would be able to claim that he made Abraham rich, Abraham declined any reward and requested neither the loot nor the people he had saved. 

Fast forward to this week’s parashah. The text goes out of its way to inform us that in order to fulfill God’s plan that Abraham and his descendants spread justice and righteousness throughout the land, God is going to inform Abraham that Sodom will be destroyed. The very people Abraham had sent back to Sodom are now going to be killed for who they have become. 

In the Talmud, Rabbi Yochanan declares that Abraham’s sin was that he let those people go, instead of bringing them into the fold of God’s ethics. Abraham was in a position of power. The King of Sodom had been defeated, and Abraham was able to defeat the multiple attacking armies. Abraham could easily have said, “You keep the riches, I’ll take the people.” Abraham, whose main purpose was outreach and modeling, did not say that, and by not doing so, he failed. His concern for his reputation wound up leading him to miss an opportunity to positively influence the people of Sodom. And now his chickens have come home to roost. Now, Abraham desperately tries to argue with God to save the very same people he endangered by allowing them to return to Sodom.  

Many of our commentators take issue with Abraham’s plea on behalf of the people of Sodom and explain that Abraham would never want evildoers to get away with their sins, so he must have been arguing just to save the righteous. However, that does not seem to fit with the context. Instead, Abraham seems to recognize the hand he played in allowing those people to be led astray and be indoctrinated by an immoral society. He failed to save them earlier and he feels responsible; will he succeed in saving them now? 

How often do we find ourselves in a position like Abraham when the King of Sodom offered him the reward but not the people? How often do we look down, look away, or avoid stepping in when we see that something is awry? How often do we avoid saying something or stepping up because “it’s not my problem?” Abraham’s abdication of responsibility came out of concern for his image. Ours may come out of issues of convenience. According to Rabbi Yochanan, our ancestors’ enslavement in Egypt was the legacy of this singular failure of Abraham to step in to save others when he had the chance. What legacy will we leave for our children when faced with our own opportunities to step in on behalf of others? 

Shabbat Shalom