Bereshith 18:1–22:24
This week’s perashá is called “Wayerá”, which means “and He appeared.” There are two important points to highlight. First, it is evident that Lot was a ṣaddiq (righteous man). Second, the Eternal, exalted be He, tests His righteous ones.
When Abraham Abinu intercedes for Sedom and Amoráh, he pleads on behalf of the righteous. Evidently, Lot was considered one of the righteous, since the mal’akhim (angels) went to rescue him and his family. Lot also prayed for So’ar, one of the towns near Sedom. As a result, Heaven heard his tefilá (prayer), and that town was spared from destruction.
Mishlé (Proverbs) says, “The world is established upon the righteous.” Many times, natural disasters strike a city or region, yet some are saved. In other cases, an entire country is spared. Let us observe that Abraham Abinu managed to “negotiate” with the Eternal on behalf of Sedom, even to the point of annulling the destructive decree if there were ten righteous men. From this, we learn the power of the minyán (quorum of ten Israelite men). It is so important to pray with a minyán, for the Creator, blessed be He, grants the wishes and needs of one person for the sake of another.
The Talmud teaches that the Shekhináh (Divine Presence) waits for the minyán to gather for tefiláh (prayer), and in fact, when one is missing, the Shekhináh asks, “Where is so-and-so who did not come today?” (Talmud Bavlí, Berakhoth). Consequently, we can conclude that Heaven delights in hearing the tefiloth (prayers) of the righteous.
The other theme to analyze in this perashá is the Binding of Yiṣḥaq Abinu. Consider this: Adonay, blessed be His Name, gives you a promise. You have waited for it for more than 25 years. Finally, you see it fulfilled—only for Heaven to ask you to give it back, in devotion. What would you do?
Mishlé (Proverbs) says, “The righteous falls seven times, and rises again.” Also, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but from them all he is delivered” (Tehillim). What is the purpose of Heaven testing man? Ḥakham Ya’aqob Culí said in his work Me’am Loeṣ that trials elevate a person—especially when he overcomes them. In other words, Heaven tests men to reveal to others and to themselves what lies within their hearts.
The path toward teshubáh (repentance) is not easy. Many times, a Jew is tested with keeping Shabbath and the miqraé qódesh (holy convocations). One begins to think, “What if I lose my job for observing Shabbath?” Other times, one is tested morally and finds oneself tempted to steal, lie, commit adultery, etc.
Asheré (happy and blessed) is the man who walks in the ways of the Eternal, says the Psalmist (Tehillim). When you have been tested and have overcome, remember the promise: “You shall be the head and not the tail; you shall lend and not borrow; your coming in and going out shall be in blessing.”
Therefore, trials build emunáh (faithful obedience), dignifying and elevating the human being more and more—until reaching perfection. El Shaddai said to Abraham Abinu, “Be perfect (whole and pure) before Me.”
What is your test? Are you overcoming it?