Hope you’re having a great day!

… Mention the Biblical figure ‘Lot’.

The response of many Jews?

‘Who?’

… Which is part of the tragedy of Lot’s life.

Lot was Abraham’s nephew.

And was influenced by his teachings.

When G-d sent Abraham on his mission?

Lot was with him. (Genesis; 12:4)

It looked like he would be part of the Jewish future.

But it didn’t work out that way.

…Later on, Lot decided to move.  To leave Abraham. (13:10)

Where did he go?

To Sodom! 

Of all places!

He was attracted by the fertile land.  By the material benefits.

And overlooked the immorality of Sodom.

Probably felt he could maintain the values he learned from Abraham.

… How did it turn out?

We have seen that Abraham stood for chessed.  Acts of kindness.

How he treated strangers in his home like royalty.

And even in Sodom, where kindness was not practiced, Lot did the same thing.

We find him making a feast for strangers who came to his home. (19:3)

But the Torah mentions one small difference.

Which makes a very big difference!

When Abraham had visitors?

The whole family was mobilized.

And joined in the Mitzvah of hospitality.

But Lot?

His family wasn’t involved.

He was on his own!

… Lot separated from the source of his values.

And he himself was able to preserve those values.

But was not able to transmit them to his family!

The Jewish People have been around for thousands of years.

But Lot was lost!

… It’s something to think about.

There’s a lot of concern today about Jewish continuity.

And if we want to transmit “Jewish values” to future generations?

We have to be connected to the source of those values.

The Torah!

 All the best,