Youth

Vayera

Avraham has just done bris milah on himself at 99 years old!! And he isn’t lying in bed, he’s desperate for guests to help! Hashem decides to pay a visit to Avraham. This teaches us the importance of the Mitzvah of Bikur Cholim, (visiting the sick). He sees how Avraham yearns for guests, so He sends three Malachim (angels) in shepherd clothing walking down the road. Avraham is so excited to see guests that he interrupts his conversation with Hashem and runs out to greet them. Avraham invites the three strangers to his tent for a meal. Then one angel tells Avraham that next year Sarah will give him a son Yitzchak.

The other two angels are here to destroy Sodom, the wicked, evil place that Lot lives. First of all, in Sodom you’re not allowed to give food to poor people. You’re not allowed to invite strangers into your home. If a stranger comes to town, they rob and beat him. If a rich guy comes into the city, the people push a wall down on him, kill him and then steal his money. If two people get into a fight and one ends up bleeding, the bleeder has to pay a doctor’s fee for the privilege!!

Hashem tells Avraham that the souls of those murdered in Sodom are crying out for revenge. But Avraham, a person with great compassion, still can’t deal with a whole city being destroyed. Where Noach failed, Avraham succeeds. He begs Hashem for mercy. Who knows, maybe they’ll do Tshuva! (repent).but they are too far gone. So the angels set off to Sodom, Lot brings them home but his sneaky wife tells all the neighbours, “I need salt for my husbands guests.” An angry mob shows up demanding the guests so they can kill them, the melachim strike them blind but in their crazed fervour they keep on trying! The melachim drag Lot reluctantly away from his money, warning the family not to look back. Mrs Lot does and becomes a pillar of – salt.

After Sodom is destroyed, Avraham moves to find more travellers to teach. He goes to Gerrar. . Avraham decides to play sister and brother again. Sure enough, word gets back to King Avimelech that the beautiful Sarah has just entered his kingdom. Avimelech orders her to be brought to the palace. Once again Sarah turns to Hashem for protection. And once again Hashem hits a royal household with plagues. Hashem speaks to Avimelech in a dream. He warns Avimelech to let Sarah go because she is a married woman.

Sarah has Yitzchak/Isaac and everyone is thrilled. 2 years later, the bliss is interrupted. Yishmael is wicked and Sarah wants his influence stopped . Hashem tells Avraham to listen to her and he sends them away, back to Egypt on a donkey. However on the way, yishmael falls ill and Hagar leaves him to die, they both pray and Hashem saves Yishmael.

Hashem waits 38 years to implement the plan! One night, Hashem appears to Avraham in a dream. He commands Avraham to “sacrifice your only son, the son you love, Yitzchok,” on Har Hamoriah (Mt. Moriah).

First Hashem promises to make Avraham into a great nation; Then Avraham has to wait 99 years for a child; Finally a son is born to him then Hashem tells Avraham to sacrifice him! And yet - Avraham trusts in Hashem and never questions the instructions.

As a matter of fact, Avraham doesn’t waste a moment. He wakes up early the next morning and heads right for the stables where he saddles his own donkey. They make it to the mountain and Isaac lies back, accepting, Avraham raises the knife and … Hashem telss him to STOP at the very last second. Wow.

Vayera Word Search

A C R Q H V A J D L U G A V H F J A M V U A L S

B S I A E F R W N V T O

S E T M K S E G X Q G B W C I H E V E X R X I N

X E R A L L I P R H L G

W X B K S L E R K B P D

U U B E A Z O C S Y N U

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I O O G T K U U D F Z N

M J L W I Q Y S F C L A B O K I V I Z W L B N O

ANGELS • AVIMELECH • BRIT • LAUGH • PILLAR • RIVKAH • SALT • SEDOM

Tangram Challenge!

Using all the shapes on the left can you make the giraffe shape on the right?

(Answers at the bottom of page upside down)

1. I turn around once. What is out will not get in. I turn around again. What is in will not get out. What am I?

3. What letters of the alphabet come too late for supper? 2. The more there is the less you see. What is it?

6. Too funny for words 5. Too much makeup 4. He’s out of his depth

3. There is no i in team 2. Low fat milk 1. Short end of the stick Q. What’s a shark’s favorite sandwich? A. Peanut butter and jellyfish!