Two Minute Torah Podcast

Vayera 5772 by Alyssa Blumenthal

Shalom! My name is Alyssa Blumenthal and I am a sophomore at Queens College. Welcome to KOACH's Two-Minute Torah, a project of the College Department of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.

This week, we read parsha Vayera, in which three angels visit Abraham as he recovers from his circumcision and in which Sarah gives birth to Isaac. The birth of Isaac is a particularly important narrative. In addition to the miracle of Sarah's being able to give birth at ninety years old, a seemingly impossible fate, we are also reassured in this Torah portion of the continuation of Abraham's covenant with God through his son, and throughout the generations. 

We also find in this portion Abraham's arguing with God on behalf of the possible righteous in Sodom and Gomorrah, and while at first this event may seem both shocking and unrelated to the covenant of our forefathers, I think there are more connections than we may initially believe.

But let's review this reading for a minute. Abraham dares to argue with God? And wait... God is consulting with Abraham in the first place? God, the all-being, all-powerful God, is asking for a second opinion?

So what does this mean? Vayera teaches us, among other things, that we each have a reciprocal relationship with God. While we may not be so bold as to overtly argue with God, as Abraham does, we do have the capacity to question and to rationalize and to make our own decisions. Spirituality and Judaism are not one-sided relationships. Though we may have been chosen by God to receive His covenant, we only actually received it through our willingness and acceptance as the People of Israel.

Instead of viewing Judaism as a list of codes and regulations and expectations, we should each try to view Judaism as something chosen. Even if we were born into a Jewish family, we still make decisions every day to live Jewishly and to uphold certain Jewish values. And this active choosing makes our Jewish experiences so much more fulfilling.

Each of us has a special relationship with Judaism - both religiously and culturally - and each of us has a distinctive set of values we hold dear. In this same way, we each have the capacity to make our covenant with God a unique one.

It's still the beginning of a new year, so let us all use this year to nourish our special relationship with God and to make it as fulfilling as possible.

Thank you and Shabbat shalom.