1. Parsha Summary – Parshat Vayera
(Genesis 18:1 - Genesis 22:24 link to Sefaria here)
Circumcision and Guests: Avraham is recovering from a circumcision when he sees three guests coming. He eagerly brings them into his home and prepares a lavish feast. The guests come bearing good news: Sarah will bear a child next year.
Protesting for Sodom: God informs Avraham that He plans to destroy the evil city of Sodom. Avraham protests with a moral argument: if there are X number of righteous people, then God ought to keep the city. But when God can’t find even 10, God decides to destroy it.
Destroying Sodom: The messengers then go to Sodom. While they’re there they witness horrible abuse – justifying God’s decision to destroy such a toxic society. They are barely able to retrieve Lot and his family. Lot makes his daughters think they are the only women alive; they get their father drunk and they create Amon and Moav with him.
Avraham and Sarah in Plishtim: They go through the same thing all over again – saying that she’s his sister and then the king takes her and eventually the couple comes back to Israel with great wealth.
Yitzchak’s birth: After a long wait – Avraham and Sarah finally become parents!!
Akedat Yishmael: After Yishmael “plays” with Yitzchak, Sarah expels Hagar and Yishmael. Though he almost dies, he’s miraculously saved.
Wells: Avraham digs up wells and the Plishtim try to plug them up. Avraham then makes peace.
Akedat Yitzchak: God commands Avraham to sacrifice his son – and he is about to – but then in the last moment, an angel intervenes thus saving Yitzchak’s life. Avraham offers up a ram instead.
2. Story context – The Binding of Isaac
(Genesis Bereshit 22:1-24, link to Sefaria here)
Section 1 – Breishit 22:1-2 G-d Tells Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac
Section 2 – Breishit 22:3-8 Abraham and Isaac journey to the location
Section 3 – Breishit 22:9-14 An angel of G-d intervenes and a ram is sacrificed instead
Section 4 – Breishit 22:15-24 Abraham’s descendents are blessed and Rebecca is born
3.Paintings
AlHaTorah interpretation, link here
4. Discussion Questions
The text leaves these points ambiguous; in making their art, the the artist takes their liberty in imagining the answers to these questions:
1. How was Sodom destroyed: Was it an earthquake, fire, or hail?
2. Who: In the narrative, the messengers were called both “men” and “angles.” Who led Lot and his family out of Sodom?
3. Mrs. Lot: What happened to her?
4. Discussion Questions
The text leaves these points ambiguous; in making their art, the the artist takes their liberty in imagining the answers to these questions:
1. The Type of Intervention: Is it an intellectual discussion, or a physical altercation?
2. The location of the sacrifice: Is the spot hidden or out in the open? What are context clues for where they are? What prominence does the altar take?
3. Abraham and Isaac’s Reaction: What facial expressions are seen on both? How active or passive are they each being?
(1) Lot Flees Sodom, Nuremberg Chronicle
(2) The Burning of Sodom, Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot
(1) Sacrifice of Isaac, Paolo Veronese
(2) Sacrifice of Isaac, Caravaggio
Parshat Vayera פרשת וירא
Piece Description, “People of Sodom”
How many righteous people does it take to save a city and how heavy is the burden of the ten that support the many? In the story of Sodom in Parashat Vayera, Avraham negotiated with God for the salvation of the people of Sodom, and on six occasions reduced the number of righteous individuals needed to be found to make the city worthy of rescue from destruction. Yet not even ten could be found. “People of Sodom” is a pen drawing depicting the individuals of Sodom through six registers. The bottom register illustrates the ten righteous people that would have saved the city, struggling to maintain the weight and burden of the chaotic individuals in the registers above. The background shows Sodom gradually getting darker from the bottom to the top, with the fiery destruction of the city in the distance. This work investigates the origin and significance of a Minyan, a quorum of ten required for prayer, which sustains Jewish communities throughout the world.
1. Parsha Summary – Parshat Vayera
(Genesis 18:1 - Genesis 22:24 link to Sefaria here)
Circumcision and Guests: Avraham is recovering from a circumcision when he sees three guests coming. He eagerly brings them into his home and prepares a lavish feast. The guests come bearing good news: Sarah will bear a child next year.
Protesting for Sodom: God informs Avraham that He plans to destroy the evil city of Sodom. Avraham protests with a moral argument: if there are X number of righteous people, then God ought to keep the city. But when God can’t find even 10, God decides to destroy it.
Destroying Sodom: The messengers then go to Sodom. While they’re there they witness horrible abuse – justifying God’s decision to destroy such a toxic society. They are barely able to retrieve Lot and his family. Lot makes his daughters think they are the only women alive; they get their father drunk and they create Amon and Moav with him.
Avraham and Sarah in Plishtim: They go through the same thing all over again – saying that she’s his sister and then the king takes her and eventually the couple comes back to Israel with great wealth.
Yitzchak’s birth: After a long wait – Avraham and Sarah finally become parents!!
Akedat Yishmael: After Yishmael “plays” with Yitzchak, Sarah expels Hagar and Yishmael. Though he almost dies, he’s miraculously saved.
Wells: Avraham digs up wells and the Plishtim try to plug them up. Avraham then makes peace.
Akedat Yitzchak: God commands Avraham to sacrifice his son – and he is about to – but then in the last moment, an angel intervenes thus saving Yitzchak’s life. Avraham offers up a ram instead.
2. Story context – Lot Flees
(Genesis Bereshit 19:12-26, link to Sefaria here)
Section 1 – Breishit 19:12-13 The angels ask who is home so everyone can get out
Section 2 – Breishit 19:14-15 The angels get Lot to take out his wife and two daughters
Section 3 – Breishit 19:16-23 The escape from Sodom
Section 4 – Breishit 19:24-26 Sodom is destroyed and Lot’s wife becomes a pillar of salt
3.Paintings
AlHaTorah interpretation, link here
THE FIRST SOURCE SHEET THAT THEY STUDIED TOGETHER
Student: Ayelet Madjuck Bruckner and Mentor: Richard McBee
THE SECOND SOURCE SHEET THAT THEY STUDIED TOGETHER
Learn more about Ayelet Madjuck Bruckner here
Learn more about Richard McBee here
