TorahParsha

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i
Abraham sits at the entrance to his tent, in the heat of the day. And from there he sees wandering angels, who are disguised as men. And he invites the men to take food from him and to take water from him and to rest from the heat of the desert beneath his tree.

The angels accept this offer right away.

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Lot, Abraham’s nephew, sits in the gate of Sodom, the wicked city, that is the city where he lives. And he sees the same angels-disguised-as-men, and he invites the angels-disguised-as-men in to his home.

But the angels only accept Lot’s invitation after great pressure.

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When the angels come to Lot’s house, the people of Sodom demand that the angels come out to be raped. Lot offers to send his daughters out in the angels’ stead. The people refuse Lot’s offer; and they try to break down the door to Lot’s house.

*
Since Abraham never invites the angels into his home, and Sarah, Abraham’s wife, is in the tent when they come, the angels do not see her.

The angels need to ask: Where is Sarah, your wife?

ii
The people of Sodom do not recognize the concept of home, of private space, of a precious hidden life. They only have a public space, public wants. This is the core of their evil.

Lot, the man of Sodom, greets guests at the city gate.

Lot brings strange men in to his home, though his daughters are there.

Guests are demanded up, and daughters are offered up, and houses are destroyed, all in the name of public pleasure.

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Abraham’s life is of the home: of things apart from the public.

Abraham greets guests at the entrance to his own tent.

Abraham does not bring the men in to his tent: so the angels cannot see his wife who is in the tent.

The things of Abraham’s life emanate from within his home, in which his life is hidden.

*
God tells Abraham that he will punish the people of Sodom. Abraham argues to God that He should spare Sodom if there will be righteous people within the city, nestled among the wicked.

In a life of the home—a life in which all wonderful things are hidden—such hope for hidden goodness is possible.

And so it is Abraham who can pray for a wicked city.

*
In this way it is the home that lays open the option that people are good. It is the home that allows for hope for humanity.

So it is the home that allows for acts of mercy.

Based, in small part, on a speech of Rabbi Michael Whitman.

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Closeness of Family

i
Abraham comes to Egypt. He fears that the Egyptian Pharaoh will kill him to take his beautiful wife.

Abraham tells Sarah, his wife: say that you are my sister so the Egyptians will not kill me to take you away.

And so Sarah does say that she is Abraham’s sister. And the Pharaoh takes Sarah as his wife, thinking she is indeed Abraham’s sister.

And it is only through miracles that the Pharaoh gives Abraham his wife back.

*
Lot is Abraham’s nephew. And Lot and Abraham dwell side-by-side. And both men own flocks on neighboring lands.

Abraham’s shepherds and Lot’s shepherds come to argue over grazing space.

Abraham tells Lot: it is wrong that there should be strife between me and you, between my shepherds and your shepherds, for we are brethren. And so Abraham suggests that the two of them separate.

Lot moves away.

ii
Later, Lot is taken prisoner in a war. Abraham hears that his brother is taken captive.

Abraham enters the war, and rescues Lot.

*
Before Abraham rescues Lot, Abraham and Sarah are childless.

After Abraham rescues Lot, Hagar, Sarah’s handmaid, gives birth to Yishmael; and Sarah gives birth to Isaac.

iii
Family is a world filled with perils. If you wish to keep yourself safe from the perils of family, you can hold your family at an arm's distance.

You can turn your wife into your sister: and then your marriage will not harm you.

You can send your nephew away: and you will have no strife.

But you can also face the perils of family, and reach out, and bring your family close.

For instance: you can rescue your captive brother from a war.

*
It is only after Abraham faces the perils of family that he becomes a father.

It is only then that God gives him His full promise of progeny, telling him: I have made you a father of many nations.

Based partly on an idea of Rabbi David Silber

Textual note: Abraham's name is Abram throughout most of Lech-Licha, and only becomes Abraham at the end. I have referred to him as Abraham for simplicity.


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Chosenness

i
Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for Isaac, who is Abraham’s son.

The servant asks God for a sign by which to find her:

The girl to whom I will say, “Let down your pitcher... that I may drink”—and she will say, “Drink, and I will give your camels drink also”—let it be her whom You have appointed for Your servant Isaac.

The servant discovers Rebecca by the well near the city. Rebecca fulfills this sign.

*
The servant tells these things to Rebecca’s family. They agree to the marriage. They say: the thing comes from the Lord.

But there is disagreement. The servant wants to take Rebecca to Isaac immediately. Her family wants her to wait. The servant says: Do not hinder me, seeing as the Lord has prospered my way.

*
Rebecca, when her family asks what she prefers, says I will go.

ii
It is clear in a sign from God that Rebecca is to be Isaac’s wife: that she is to become mother to Israel.

But Rebecca must decide, herself, to go on God’s path.

iii
Even those who are chosen by God must themselves choose Him.

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