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Vayeira - Teshuva

Genesis 18:1 - 22:24

Avraham, on the third day after his brit mila, sits outside his tent looking for guests to extend his hospitality. While talking with the Almighty, he sees three visitors (actually angels of the Almighty). Avraham interrupts his conversation with the Almighty to invite them to a meal. One angel informs him that in a year's time, Sarah, his wife, will give birth to a son, Yitzhak (Isaac).

G-d tells Avraham that He is going to destroy Sodom because of its absolute evil (the city is the source of the word sodomy). Avraham argues with G-d to spare Sodom if there can be found ten righteous people in Sodom. Avraham loses for the lack of a quorum. Lot escapes the destruction with his two daughters.

Other incidents: Avimelech, King of the Philistines, wants to marry Sarah (Avraham's wife), the birth of Yitzhak, the eviction of Hagar (Avraham's concubine) and Ishmael. Avimelech and Avraham make a treaty at Beersheva. Avraham is commanded to take up his son, Isaac, as an offering "on one of the mountains" (Akeidat Yitzhak). Lastly, the announcement of the birth of Rivka (Rebecca), the future wife of Yitzhak.

Do you want to know the reward for listening to the command of the Almighty? This is what the Almighty told Avraham: "... I shall surely bless you and greatly increase your descendants like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore; and your offspring shall inherit the gate of its enemy. And all the nations of the earth shall bless themselves by your offspring, because you have listened to My voice."

Believe or not to believe?

The Torah relates that when the matriarch, Sarah, was told that she would bear a child at the age of 90, she laughed "inwardly," thinking, "How can I bear a child at my old age?" G-d then said to Avraham, "Why did Sarah laugh? Is there anything that is beyond God?" Avraham reprimanded Sarah, but "Sarah denied, saying 'I did not laugh' for she was frightened." Avraham then said to her, "No, you laughed indeed" (Gen. 18:12-14).

The Rabbi of Gur says that it is impossible to think that Sarah lied. The Midrash tells us that Sarah was totally free of sin (Bereishis Rabbah 58:1). He, therefore, interprets the verse as saying not that Sarah denied, but that Sarah was in denial.

Her disbelief that she could carry a child was "inward" -- deep in the recesses of her subconscious. Sarah was not even aware of this thought. Only G-d Who knows a person's innermost thoughts and feelings, was aware of it. When Avraham reprimanded her for this thought, Sarah could not even imagine that she could have harbored disbelief of G-d's omnipotence. Her reverence of God was so great that a thought such as this was beyond her.

The verse thus reads, "Sarah was in denial because she was so G-d-fearing." Sarah was certain that she was speaking the truth when she said, "I did not laugh." Sarah did not deny or lie. She had no access to her subconscious.

If a person cannot be aware that he is in denial, how can we protect ourselves from being blind to reality? There is one way -- by listening to your Rabbi who are objective and can see that which we cannot see.

The name Itzchak (Issac) means laugh because Sarah's Nefash HaBehamit (Animal Soul) laugh (Doubted) but right the way her Nefash HaElokit (Divine Soul) did teshuva (Repent) and she laugh with happiness because she knew (Believed) that G-d will give her a child. 

What's Teshuva?

The word Teshuvah in Hebrew may be read “tashuv hey,” literally “returning the letter Hey.” The last letter Hey of the Tetragrammeton refers to MalchutMalchut is synonymous with Shechinah, which is how G‑d manifests Himself as a sovereign within the creation.

The Hebrew word for Jerusalem, the holy capital, is Yerushalayim. This word is in fact a composite of two words: Yirah Shalem, meaning “a perfect state of awe.” When the Jewish nation stands totally cognizant of that the Shechinah rests in Jerusalem. This was the state in Temple times. However, when the Jewish people sinned as a result of insensitivity to the G‑dliness, the sin precipitated a removal of the Shechinah and the subsequent destruction of Jerusalem. The name of G‑d was “fractured” and the final hey went into exile. Teshuvahis the process whereby the name of G‑d is again complete and once again the Shechinahrests in Jerusalem within the rebuilt Temple. The physical building or destruction of Jerusalem correlates completely with the spiritual state of Yerushalayim (perfect awe). They will once again be sensitized to the state of perfect awe, and “on that day G‑d will be One and His name will be One.”

How to do Teshuva?

Step 1 - Regret. Realize the extent of the damage and feel sincere regret.

Step 2 - Cessation. Immediately stop the harmful action.

Step 3 - Confession. Articulate the mistake and ask for forgiveness.

Step 4 - Resolution. Make a firm commitment not to repeat it in the future.

 

Laughter is an instant vacation!

G-d asks no one
whether he will accept life.
This is not the choice.
The only choice you have
as you go through life
is how you live it.

SHABBAT SHALOM!

Mon, July 7 2025 11 Tammuz 5785