The Parsha |
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Vayeirah
Text:
Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were married to his daughters. He said, “Arise, leave this place! For G-d is destroying the city!” But he seemed to his sons-in-law like a man who was joking.
[Bereishis 19:14]
They said to him, “There are adrakolin and karbelin [types of musical instruments] in the city – and the city will be overturned?!”
[Midrash]
i.e. the city is cheerful and joyous – and it will be overturned?!
[Commentary to Midrash]
Question:
What was the logic of Lot’s sons-in-law? How did the cheerful mood in the city preclude the possibility of Divine retribution?
Answer:
The resistance of Lot’s sons-in-law was not logical, but psychological. G-d could certainly destroy Sodom in an instant – but they were simply unable to envision an occurrence so at odds with the current reality. So they laughed off the warning – and paid the price.
Message:
People have trouble believing in a reality that conflicts with what they see. Like Lot’s sons-in-law, we often ignore the truth simply because we cannot visualize it. We must take care to listen to the voice of reason, and not be led astray by the limits of our imagination.
Click below to open a printable pdf
Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were married to his daughters. He said, “Arise, leave this place! For G-d is destroying the city!” But he seemed to his sons-in-law like a man who was joking.
[Bereishis 19:14]
They said to him, “There are adrakolin and karbelin [types of musical instruments] in the city – and the city will be overturned?!”
[Midrash]
i.e. the city is cheerful and joyous – and it will be overturned?!
[Commentary to Midrash]
Question:
What was the logic of Lot’s sons-in-law? How did the cheerful mood in the city preclude the possibility of Divine retribution?
Answer:
The resistance of Lot’s sons-in-law was not logical, but psychological. G-d could certainly destroy Sodom in an instant – but they were simply unable to envision an occurrence so at odds with the current reality. So they laughed off the warning – and paid the price.
Message:
People have trouble believing in a reality that conflicts with what they see. Like Lot’s sons-in-law, we often ignore the truth simply because we cannot visualize it. We must take care to listen to the voice of reason, and not be led astray by the limits of our imagination.
Click below to open a printable pdf
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