Learn from Rabbi Isaac about how God “appears” and manifests Himself in different ways in this parashah of Vayeira and how this Torah Parashah reveals God’s character of “Tzedakah” (charity) as well as his justice in “mishpatim” (i.e. his Judgments).  Come to understand the lessons for our spiritual growth in the stories of Abraham’s three visitors and Abraham’s bargaining with God over Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot’s two visitors and Lot’s bargaining with the Sodomites, the flight of Lot and the real sins of Sodom and Gomorrah that caused their destruction, as well as how Yeshua was the light that came out of the darkness of the cave in which Lot’s daughters slept with and got pregnant by their father, and how Abraham once again was blessed by the surrounding nations by trusting in Hashem!  Come to understand the symbol of the covenant in the birth of Isaac, as well as the deeper meanings of the expulsion of Hagar, disputes over wells, and the binding of Isaac.

Video Torah Teaching For Shabbat of November 16th, 2024
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Torah: Genesis 18:1-22:24
Haftarah: Kings II 4:1-37

Vayeira (וַיֵּרָא‎ — Hebrew for “and He appeared,” the first word in the parashah) is the fourth weekly Torah portion (פָּרָשָׁה‎, parashah) in the annual cycle of Torah reading and covers Genesis 18:1–22:24.

Torah Parashah Vayera Summary

Genesis 18:1-22;24

God reveals Himself to Abraham three days after the first Jew’s circumcision at age ninety-nine; but Abraham rushes off to prepare a meal for three guests who appear in the desert heat. One of the three—who are angels disguised as men—announces that, in exactly one year, the barren Sarah will give birth to a son. Sarah laughs.

Abraham pleads with God to spare the wicked city of Sodom. Two of the three disguised angels arrive in the doomed city, where Abraham’s nephew Lot extends his hospitality to them and protects them from the evil intentions of a Sodomite mob. The two guests reveal that they have come to overturn the place, and to save Lot and his family. Lot’s wife turns into a pillar of salt when she disobeys the command not to look back at the burning city as they flee.

While taking shelter in a cave, Lot’s two daughters (believing that they and their father are the only ones left alive in the world) get their father drunk, lie with him and become pregnant. The two sons born from this incident father the nations of Moab and Ammon.

Abraham moves to Gerar, where the Philistine king Abimelech takes Sarah—who is presented as Abraham’s sister—to his palace. In a dream, God warns Abimelech that he will die unless he returns the woman to her husband. Abraham explains that he feared he would be killed over the beautiful Sarah.

God remembers His promise to Sarah, and gives her and Abraham a son, who is named Isaac (Yitzchak, meaning “will laugh”). Isaac is circumcised at the age of eight days; Abraham is one hundred years old, and Sarah ninety, at their child’s birth.

Hagar and Ishmael are banished from Abraham’s home and wander in the desert; God hears the cry of the dying lad, and saves his life by showing his mother a well. Abimelech makes a treaty with Abraham at Beersheba, where Abraham gives him seven sheep as a sign of their truce.

God 9th test for Abraham’s devotion by commanding him to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah (the Temple Mount) in Jerusalem. Isaac is bound and placed on the altar, and Abraham raises the knife to slaughter his son. A voice from heaven calls to stop him; a ram, caught in the undergrowth by its horns, is offered in Isaac’s place. Abraham receives the news of the birth of a daughter, Rebecca, to his nephew Bethuel.

New Studies for Deeper Understanding…

For further Dvar Torah study on parashah “Vayera”, please enjoy the latest below video teaching… Listen and learn from Rabbi Isaac as he takes your understanding to an even deeper level!  Enjoy and be blessed!

Please also enjoy the below video teaching on “Understanding (Avraham’s) Charity as Tzedakah”! from Torah Parashah Vayera” in the context of how Avraham’s revealed Hashem’s attribute of Kindness. (Then drop below to watch the parallel Haftarah from 2 Kings 4:1-37 about the way Yah manifests Himself to us!)  

Torah for your Children…

For a simple cartoon summary of the Torah parashah for your children we recommend the following video below created by G-dcast:

Haftarah (Prophets) Summary

II Kings 4:1-37

In this week’s Torah reading, God promises a child to Abraham and Sarah, despite their advanced age. This week’s haftarah describes a similar incident that occurred many years later — the prophet Elisha assuring an elderly childless woman that she will bear a child.

The haftarah discusses two miracles performed by the prophet Elisha. The first miracle involved a widow who was heavily in debt, and her creditors were threatening to take her two sons as slaves to satisfy the debt. When the prophet asked her what she had in her home, the widow responded that she had nothing but a vial of oil. Elisha told her to gather as many empty containers as possible — borrowing from neighbors and friends as well. She should then pour oil from her vial into the empty containers. She did as commanded, and miraculously the oil continued to flow until the last empty jug was filled. The woman sold the oil for a handsome profit, and had enough money to repay her debts and live comfortably.

The second miracle: Elisha would often pass by the city of Shunam, where he would dine and rest at the home of a certain hospitable couple. This couple even made a special addition to their home, a guest room designated for Elisha’s use. When the prophet learned that the couple was childless, he blessed the woman that she should give birth to a child in exactly one year’s time. And indeed, one year later a son was born to the aged couple.

A few years later the son complained of a headache and died shortly thereafter. The Shunamit woman laid the lifeless body on the bed in Elisha’s designated room, and quickly summoned the prophet. Elisha hurried to the woman’s home and miraculously brought the boy back to life.

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Torah Parashah teaching with video and audio and illustrations by Rabbi Isaac. © Assembly of Called-Out Believers. Use by Permission.

Website: www.CalledOutBelievers.org