Rabbi Gordon - Vayeira: 3rd Portion

The Chumash portion for the Tuesday of Parshas Vayera focuses on the arrival of two angels in Sodom after Abraham's unsuccessful attempts to save the city. Lot, sitting at the city gates, greets the angels and insists they stay at his home despite the dangers posed by the city's hostile laws against hospitality. The narrative highlights the moral decay of Sodom, where the local populace surrounds Lot's house, demanding to violate his guests, revealing the city's culture of violence and depravity.

Lot's desperate attempts to protect his guests lead him to offer his daughters to the mob, showcasing his commitment to hospitality even in the face of danger. The angels ultimately intervene, blinding the mob and urging Lot to flee the city with his family before its impending destruction. Despite the urgency, Lot hesitates, prioritizing his material possessions over his safety. The angels forcibly lead him and his family out of Sodom, instructing them not to look back as they escape to a nearby city, Zoar, which they convince God to spare due to its lesser sins. The episode underscores themes of hospitality, moral responsibility, and the consequences of living amidst corruption.

These classes teach the day’s section of the weekly Torah portion. The lesson is taught using the original Hebrew text with the indispensable commentary of Rashi—both translated and elucidated so that anyone can follow along.