Hayei Sarah

Isaac and his brother Ishmael were separated when Ishmael's mother Hagar was sent away from the family. When their father Avraham dies, they come together to bury him.

Is there someone in your family you haven't seen or spoken to for a long time? What would help you renew your relationship?

How can you heal relationships that have "gone bad"?
Why might you want to?

VaYera

In case you didn't see last year's post, click on the label "VaYera" below this post!

This is the portion in which Abraham seems to negotiate with God about the fate of the cities of Sedom and Amorrah.  Will God punish everyone in the city even if there are 50 good people?  45?  40?  35?  30?  20?  10?  That's where Abraham and God finish the conversation.  As you can read, there are not even 10 good people, and the city is destroyed.

1. Why do you think Abraham had this conversation with God?
2. Why do you think God was willing to save the city if there were 10 good people, but not fewer than that?
3. Do you think it's fair to punish good people who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time?  What if there were 8 good people in the city?
4. What do you think would have happened to the bad people of Sedom if God had found enough good people to save the city?  Would they have gone without punishment, or do you think they would have been punished eventually?

What do you think?

Be sure to share your answers by commenting on this blog