Hi,
Sorry about the suspense!
What’s the end of the Lot and Sodom story?
We left off with Lot’s home being surrounded by the “people of Sodom.”
… Then G-d intervenes.
The people are struck with a form of blindness. And they leave. (Genesis, 19:11-16)
… It turns out, that these guests were really angels, appearing as men.
And they tell Lot, “G-d is about to destroy this place.
Take whoever you have in this city and get out of here!”
The angels returned the next morning, “Get out of here now.
“Or you will be destroyed as well.”
And Lot hesitates. “He’s thinking about it.”
Doesn’t seem capable of confronting his mistake.
And the angels take him by the hand and “shlepp” him out.
… I’ve referred to Lot as a tragic figure.
Not to say that he’s not responsible for his decisions.
Of course he is.
The tragedy is the potential that he had.
And how it was all lost when he decided to move to Sodom.
When he chose the materialism of Sodom over the morals and values of Abraham.
… We’re not faced with a “this or that” decision.
And Sodom is not an option for us.
But we do have challenges. And decisions to make.
… Thank G-d, we live in America.
We have opportunities that Jews have never had.
But sometimes we can get caught up in becoming “successful.”
In fulfilling the “American dream.”
Or in raising “successful” children.
The best doctor. Or the best lawyer.
And that’s fine.
… But we need to remember what would be most important to Abraham.
And that’s trying to become the best human beings. And the best Jews.
… One of the great Torah scholars of our generation has a son who is not a Rabbi.
In fact, he’s not in what we would call a “Jewish profession.”
He’s a car mechanic.
Is the Rabbi disappointed?
Well, one day he was waiting for his son outside his garage.
Another person started schmoozing. Not realizing that he was the mechanic’s father.
“You know why I come here?
This guy is the most honest person I have ever met!”
The Rabbis response?
I could have no greater joy in life than to hear that about my son!”
All the best,