For the week ending 23 October 2021 / 17 Cheshvan 5782
Parashat Vayera
Questions
- Why did
G-d appear to Avraham after the brit mila? - Why was Avraham sitting at the entrance to his tent?
- What were the missions of the three angels?
- Why did Avraham enjoin the guests to wash the dust off their feet?
- Why did Avraham ask specifically Yishmael, and not someone else, to prepare food for the guests?
- Why did the angels ask Avraham where Sarah was?
- When
G-d related Sarah's thoughts to Avraham, He did not relate them precisely. Why - What "cry" from Sodom came before
G-d ? - How many angels went to Sodom?
- Why was Lot sitting at the gate of Sodom?
- Lot served the angels matza. Why?
- Why did Lot delay when he left Sodom?
- Why were Lot and his family not permitted to look back at Sodom?
- Lots wife looked back and became a pillar of salt. Why was she punished in this particular way?
- In what merit did
G-d save Lot? - Why did Avraham relocate after the destruction of Sodom?
- Why did Avimelech give gifts to Avraham?
- Why was Avraham told to listen to Sarah?
- Why did
G-d listen to the prayer of Yishmael and not to that of Hagar? - Who accompanied Avraham and Yitzchak to the akeidah (binding)?
All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated.
Answers
- Why did
G-d appear to Avraham after the brit mila?
18:1 - Avraham was sick, soG-d came to "visit" him. - Why was Avraham sitting at the entrance to his tent?
18:1 - He was looking for guests. - What were the missions of the three angels?
18:2 - To announce Yitzchak's birth, to heal Avraham and to destroy Sodom. - Why did Avraham enjoin the guests to wash the dust off their feet?
18:4 - He thought they were among those who worship the dust, and he didn't want any object of idolatry in his home. - Why did Avraham ask specifically Yishmael, and not someone else, to prepare food for the guests?
18:7 - To train him in the performance of mitzvot. - Why did the angels ask Avraham where Sarah was?
18:9 - To call attention to Sarah's modesty, so as to endear her to her husband. - When
G-d related Sarah's thoughts to Avraham, He did not relate them precisely. Why
18:13 - For the sake of peace. - What "cry" from Sodom came before
G-d ?
18:21 - The cry of a girl who was executed for giving food to the poor. - How many angels went to Sodom?
19:1 - Two; one to destroy the city and one to save Lot. - Why was Lot sitting at the gate of Sodom?
19:1 - He was a judge. - Lot served the angels matza. Why?
19:3 - It was Passover. - Why did Lot delay when he left Sodom?
19:16 - He wanted to save his property. - Why were Lot and his family not permitted to look back at Sodom?
19:17 - As they, too, deserved to be punished, it wasn't fitting for them to witness the destruction of Sodom. - Lots wife looked back and became a pillar of salt. Why was she punished in this particular way?
19:26 - She was stingy, not wanting to give the guests salt. - In what merit did
G-d save Lot?
19:29 - Lot had protected Avraham by concealing from the Egyptians the fact that Sarah was his wife. - Why did Avraham relocate after the destruction of Sodom?
20:1 - Because travel in the region ceased and Avraham could no longer find guests. - Why did Avimelech give gifts to Avraham?
20:14 - So that Avraham would pray for him. - Why was Avraham told to listen to Sarah?
21:12 - Because she was greater in prophecy. - Why did
G-d listen to the prayer of Yishmael and not to that of Hagar?
21:17 - Because the prayer of a sick person is more readily accepted than the prayer of others on his behalf. - Who accompanied Avraham and Yitzchak to the akeidah (binding)?
22:3 - Yishmael and Eliezer.