Parshat Va-yera

The problem with writing about the Book of Genesis is that it feels like every parsha contains the Biblical Greatest Hits: where to begin? Abraham, “sitting at the entrance of the tent as the day grew hot”, sees three strangers. Without any hesitation, he welcomes them in to his home, offering them food, drink, and friendship,“...and he waited on them under the tree as they ate.” These are the angels in disguise who predict that the elderly Sarah who “had stopped having the periods of women” would have a son. Sarah laughed—many of my friends and I can relate! Next we see Abraham frantically bargaining with G-d to save the depraved cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. But Abraham cannot find even 10 “innocent” people-the cities are destroyed. And then we come, finally, to the Akeda, the binding of Isaac, a Biblical moment that no Jewish son can ever forget. G-d asks Abraham to make the ultimate sacrifice—his beloved son Isaac. When G-d calls upon him, Abraham answers “Here I am”. “ “...(Abraham) laid (Isaac) upon the altar, on top of the wood. And Abraham picked up the knife to slay his son. Then an angel of the Lord called to him from heaven: ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ And he answered ‘Here I am.’ And he said, ‘Do not raise your hand against the boy...For now I know that you fear G-d...’” Happy 21st anniversary to my Daniel! Shabbat Shalom! Sent from my iPhone