Parsha Q&A - Vayera

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Parsha Q&A

Parshas Vayera

For the week ending 18 Cheshvan 5756; 10 & 11 November 1995

Contents:
  • Parsha Questions
  • Bonus Question
  • I Did Not Know That!
  • Recommended Reading List
  • Answers to Parsha Questions
  • Answer to Bonus Question
  • Subscription Information
  • Ohr Somayach Home Page

    • Parsha Questions

    Answers | Contents
    1. In the beginning of the Parsha, why did Hashem appear to Avraham?
    2. Why was Avraham sitting at the entrance to his tent?
    3. What were the missions of the three angels?
    4. Why did Avraham enjoin the guests to wash the dust off their feet?
    5. Why did Avraham ask Yishmael to prepare the food for the guests?
    6. The angels asked Avraham where Sarah was. Why?
    7. When Hashem related Sarah's thoughts to Avraham, He did not relate them precisely. Why?
    8. What "cry" from Sodom came before Hashem?
    9. How many angels went to Sodom?
    10. Why was Lot sitting at the gate of Sodom?
    11. Lot served the angels matzos. Why?
    12. Why did Lot delay when he left Sodom?
    13. Why were Lot and his family not permitted to look back at Sodom?
    14. "A pillar of salt." Why was Lot's wife punished in this peculiar way - to be salt?
    15. In what merit did Hashem save Lot?
    16. Why did Avraham relocate after the destruction of Sodom?
    17. Why did Avimelech give gifts to Avraham?
    18. Why was Avraham told to listen to Sarah?
    19. Why did Hashem listen to the prayer of Yishmael and not to that of Hagar?
    20. Who accompanied Avraham and Yitzchak to the Akeidah (binding)?

    Bonus Question

    Answer | Contents

    "And Sarah laughed within herself... Then Sarah denied, saying, 'I didn't laugh'... And he said, 'No, you did laugh'" (18:12, 18:15).
    How could Sarah seemingly lie?

    I Did Not Know That!

    Avraham had received a command to sacrifice Yitzchak directly from Hashem. Yitzchak had only heard it from his father. Yet, "they went both of them together (22:6)" with the same zeal and determination.
    Rav Menachem Mendel of Kotzk

    Recommended Reading List

    Ramban
    18:7
    The Love of Kindness
    18:13
    For the Sake of Peace
    18:15
    Sarah's Laughter
    19:8
    Lot's Disgrace
    22:1
    The Meaning of a Trial
    22:16
    The Promise of Eternity

    Sforno
    18:2
    The Love of Kindness
    18:22
    Persistence
    19:8
    Lot's Reasoning
    19:11
    The Nature of the Wicked
    19:37-8
    Meaning Well

    Answers to this Week's Questions

    Questions | Contents

    All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated

    1. 18:1 - Avraham was sick, so Hashem came to 'visit' him.
    2. 18:1 - He was looking for guests.
    3. 18:2 - To announce that Sarah would give birth, to heal Avraham and to destroy Sodom.
    4. 18:4 - He thought they were Arabians who worshipped the dust, and he didn't want any object of idolatry in his home.
    5. 18:7 - To train him in the performance of mitzvos.
    6. 18:9 - To call attention to Sarah's modesty, so as to endear her to her husband.
    7. 18:13 - For the sake of peace.
    8. 18:21 - The cry of a girl who was put to death for giving food to a poor man.
    9. 19:1 - Two; one to destroy the city and one to save Lot.
    10. 19:1 - He was a judge.
    11. 19:3 - It was Passover.
    12. 19:16 - He lingered to save his property.
    13. 19:17 - Since they too really should have been punished, it wasn't fitting for them to witness the destruction of Sodom.
    14. 19:26 - She had refused to give the guests salt.
    15. 19:29 - Lot had protected Avram by concealing from the Egyptians that Sarai was Avram's wife.
    16. 20:1 - Because travel in the region ceased and Avraham could no longer find guests.
    17. 20:14 - So that Avraham would pray for him.
    18. 21:12 - Because she was greater in prophecy.
    19. 21:17 - Because the prayer of a sick person is more readily accepted than the prayer of others on his behalf.
    20. 22:3 - Yishmael and Eliezer.

    Answer to Bonus Question

    Question | Contents

    Sarah didn't lie. She didn't laugh out loud, but only within herself. Still, Hashem chastised her because a person is held accountable even for improper thoughts.
    Tz'ror Hamor

    Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane
    General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
    Production Design: Lev Seltzer
    HTML Design: Michael Treblow
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