Article abstract for Parashat Vayeira: The Parashah relates the story of the destruction of the wicked Sodom and Gomorrah. We find Abraham pleading โwith astonishing audaciousness- on behalf of the barbarous Sodomoites. What could possibly have motivated him to act so boldly in support of such a villainous place? We believe a hint to the answer may be found by examining the numerous words the Torah uses in describing the destruction of the city. No less than five distinct words are employed to describe its ruin, chief among them the word ืฉืืช, used eight separate times. The difference between these words, and the connection between the appearance of ืฉืืช here and in conjunction with the sin of the golden calf I believe may provide a hint into the motive behind Abraham's unexpected brazenness. ืืึผืึทื ืึทืึฐืกึฐืจืึผื ืึฒืึดืฉึผืึดืื ืึทืฆึผึทืึผึดืืงึดื ืึฒืึดืฉึผืึธื ืึฒืชึทืฉืึฐืึดืืช ืึผึทืึฒืึดืฉึผืึธื ืึถืช ืึผึธื ืึธืขึดืืจ (ืืจืืฉืืช ืื:ืื). What if the fifty righteous people should lack five? Would You destroy (ืึฒืชึทืฉืึฐืึดืืช) the entire city because of the five? (Gen. 18: 28). There are eight occurrences of the root ืฉืืช in the Torah portion Vayeira, exceeding its incidence in any other Torah portion. What is its meaning? It is also worth noting that besides for ืฉืืช, the Torah uses four other words to describe the destruction of Sodom: 1) Lechalotืืืืืช (to terminate) - see Gen. 18:21. 2) Lespot ืืกืคืืช (to stamp out) - see Gen. 18:23-4; 19:15, 17. 3) Lehamit ืืืืืช (to kill) - see Gen. 18:25. 4) Lahafochืืืคืื (to overturn) โ see Gen. 19:21, 25, 29. Thus, we must try to distinguish between these terms, and understand the message that each of them teaches us. Moreover, perhaps the biggest question we should ask: Why was Abraham so interested in saving the evil inhabitants of Sodom? Let us first examine the root ืฉืืช. We find this root in connection with the sin of the Golden Calf: Go, descend - for your people have become corrupt (ืฉืึดืึตืช) (Ex. 32:7). Our Sages interpreted the wordืฉืึดืึตืช in the sense of ืงึดืึฐืงืึผื (deterioration / spoilage),[1] and in the sense ofืึฒืึผึธืึธื (damage / corruption).[2] RSRH, commenting on the phrase, ืึทืชึผึดืฉึผืึธืึตืช ืึธืึธืจึถืฅ, and the earth had become decadent (Gen. 6:11), points out that ืงึดืึฐืงืึผื is an expression of incomplete destruction. The term ืืฉืืชื takes on this meaning because it is derived from the word ืฉืืช, meaning a pit or trap.[3] RSRH makes a similar linkage regarding the phrase,ืคึผึถื ืชึผึทืฉืึฐืึดืชืึผื , lest you act corruptly (Deut. 4:16), noting that the root ืฉืืช in that verse denotes a spiritual / moral deterioration, for like the descent of the pit, one who falls off of the proper moral path sinks into spiritual decline.[4] We also find the destructive ืึฒืึผึธืึธื)) aspect of the root ืฉืืช in describing the blemish of an animal offering, in the verse, for their corruption (ืึธืฉืึฐืึธืชึธื) is in them, a blemish is in them (Lev. 22:25).[5] [As explained by Ibn Ezra, its root is ืฉืืช, as the letter ื is superfluous.] Ramban explains this connection in his comments to the verse, Their blemish has corrupted His estranged children for Him (Deut. 32:5) - โA blemish is referred to as a 'corruption,'โ[6] as it is stated, for their corruption is in them, a blemish is in themโฆ [Thus, our verse] is saying that the blemish of Israel has corrupted for the Rock (i.e., God) His nation and His heritage.[7] To summarize, the early commentators raise several ideas in order to clarify the meaning of the word ืืฉืืชื. They are: A. spoilage / blemish; B. damage / break; C. decline / descent. We should note that we find similar meanings in other roots containing the letters ืืช. They are: 1. Shachet ืฉืืช (meaning discussed below) - This term has three related meanings: A. pit / trap (a sunken / low location);[8] B) distorted / degenerate / ugly (a decrepit / declining state);[9] C) spoilage (physical or spiritual).[10] 2. Pachat ืคืืช (meaning discussed below) - This term has two related meanings: A) pit / trap (a sunken / low location);[11] B) defect / baseness (feeble / lowly quality).[12] 3. Tachat ืชืืช (meaning discussed below) - This term has three meanings related to the above context, all of which are directly linked to its literal meaning, below / beneath: A) lowliness;[13] B) instead of / in exchange for[14] (as if the potential replacement is sitting beneath the original, ready to replace it at the appropriate time. In this sense, it is similar to the English word โlieu-tenant,โ a subsidiary officer who is on call to serve โin lieu ofโ his superior; C) because / due to (the primary motive, which lies just beneath the surface).[15] 4. Chatam ืืชื (sign / seal) - A seal is sunken into the wax / lime. It is related to descent in the same way that the Hebrew word ืืืขืช (signet ring) is related to sinking. Also, when part of a signet ring, it serves to leave an indelible and irreversible impression.[16] 5. Chata ืืชื (rain down) - This is how Yerios Shlomo interprets the term in the verse, for you will(ืึนืชึถื) rain down coals on his head (Prov. 25:22). Likewise, Midrash Sechel Tov, on the verse, Now Hashem had caused sulfur and fire to rain down upon Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:24), states: โWhen [Godโs] children were hungry, he rained down bread from the heavens, and when the Sodomites revolted [against Him], He rained down ((ืืชื coals.โ[17] 6. Nachet ื ืืช (descent / land / sink) - See Jer. 21:13.[18] 7. Chatan ืืชื (son-in-law)[19] - Yerios Shlomo (Vol. I: 112, 2) links the terms ื ืืช and ืืชื as, in his view, both are based on the two-letter root ืืช. Thus, the term ื ึทืึทืช ืจืึผืึท denotes calm satisfaction, as the person arrives at a state of peace and settling down. Likewise, a son-in-law is one who โacquires an encampment in the family and settles into it.โ[20] In this manner, it is similar to the word ืฉืึดืืืึผืึฐ, the betrothal of two people, which is the Aramaic translation of ืฉืื (subsiding) and ืฉืงื (calm).[21] 8. Chitat ืืชืช (shattering) - This term can be used both in a physical sense[22] or in an emotional sense.[23] 9. Chatach ืืชื (cutting) - see Dan. 9:24.[24] 10. Chatar ืืชืจ (dig / shatter for some purpose) - see Ex. 24:1.[25] 11. Chataf ืืชืฃ (seize / capture) - The verbs ืืชืฃ and ืืืฃ have the same meaning, as noted by Ibn Ezra. In his comments to both Job 9:12 and Ex. 7:27, Ibn Ezra seems to equate the verbs ืืชืฃ and ืฉืืช as both referring to capturing in a trap.[26] Thus, it would appear that he understood ืืชืฃ to mean specifically seizure via trap, in which the seizure is a prelude to destruction. Indeed, we find similarly that Rashi and Ibn Ezra interpret the verse ื ึดืึฐืึผึทื ืึผึดืฉืึฐืึดืืชืึนืชึธื (Lam. 4:20) as: captured in the pits that they dug.[27] 12. Chatal ืืชื (repair a rupture / breakage)[28] - Although repairing is the opposite of breaking; many times, words in the Hebrew language that have diametrically opposite meanings have the same root (e.g., ืฉืจืฉ, ืืฉื, etc.). This true of the root ืืชื: a broken bone that is bound with a bandage is concomitantly separated from other objects.[29] Having discussed at length the various meanings of the root ืฉืืช and the underlying biliteral ืืช, let us return to the question regarding the numerous instances of this root in connection with the destruction of Sodom, and how this word differs from the other terms of destruction in the context of that story. It would appear at first glance that all of Abrahamโs great efforts to prevent the destruction of Sodom were for naught, for in the end it was utterly destroyed. However, if we analyze more deeply the use of these alternate expressions in Abrahamโs โbargainingโ with God over Sodom (ืืื, ืชืกืคื, ืืืืืช, ืฉืืช), a very different picture is revealed to us. 1. God opens His words (informing Abraham about the imminent overturning of Sodom) with the word ืึผึธืึธื, a word that denotes the utter elimination of everything contained in the city. This is evident both from Onkelus[30] and Rashi,[31] as well as from Onkelusโ interpretation of other instances of the root ืืื in Scripture.[32] 3. However, in his response (Gen. 18:23-24), Abraham uses the expression ืชึผึดืกึฐืคึผึถื, destruction.[33] Although Onkelus translates it here as ืชืฉืืฆื, which is the same โutterly destructiveโ expression that he uses in the aforementioned instances of ืืื, we find other instances of the term in this very portion which Onkelus translates as ืชืืงื, an expression of lashing rather than destruction.[34] As he continues to plead on behalf of Sodom, Abraham changes his word choice yet again, stating, It would be sacrilege to You to do such a thing, to put to death ืึฐืึธืึดืืช the righteous along with the wicked (Gen. 18:25). While Onkelus translates here too as ืืฉืืฆืื, throughout Scripture he translates ืึฐืึธืึดืืช as ืงืืื,[35] which simply means killing. Elsewhere, the word consistently refers to individuals, not to an entire city! 4. Finally, in his closing argument (Gen. 18:28), Abraham alters his wording yet again, this time employing the word ืึฒืชึทืฉืึฐืึดืืช. As we have shown above, the root ืฉืืช is interpreted by the early commentators as an expression of spoilage and sinking, and it is translated regularly in Aramaic as ืืื, an expression of breakage, or shattering (see Targum Yonatan to Isa. 10:27). What does all of this mean? Beyond any doubt, Abraham was fully aware of the extent of the Sodomites' wickedness. It certainly dawned upon him from the very beginning that there might not exist even a single righteous person in Sodom outside of Lot and his family.[36] Abraham's main goal was to lessen and curtail the scope of the punishment, as we shall explain: God provided Abraham with an opening, by stating that He wished to utterly destroy (ืึฐืึทืืึนืช) the city. Abraham responded in a similar but not identical manner, instead using the root ืกืคื, which can imply a mere lashing (ืึทืึฐืงึธืึธื) rather than utter destruction, as per above. Essentially, Abraham toned down the degree of destruction by using a different word than God did. Since God, as it were, was silent and did not respond to this point, Abraham continued to try and temper Sodomโs fate by mentioning the word ืึฐืึธืึดืืช a word that relates to individual people (but not to the city as a whole) - in the hopes that God would allow certain individuals to survive. Once again, God did not protest. So Abraham concluded his plea by using the word ืฉืืช, a word whose primary meaning does not even denote destruction and elimination at all, but rather spoilage / defect, sinking, and breakage - situations that can be overcome in principle - as long as the location is not obliterated in its entirety. Looking at it from this perspective, Abraham did indeed succeed in his mission. For from the time he began his supplications, the word ืืื was no longer used. Although the angels who spoke to Lot did use the word ืชืกืคื, Onkelus there merely translates it as the far milder ืชืืงื, as we explained above. Perhaps they merely used the word in the context of warning Lot about the imminent doom, so that he would hasten his departure. In any case, the word ืืื in the sense of an intense destruction was no longer being used. The destruction of Sodom was now merely described with the words ืืฉืืชื and ืืคืืื, overturning (see Gen. 19:21, 19:25, 19:29, Deut. 29:22). Targum Yonatan (to Amos 4:11) describes the ืืืคืืช ืกืืื as the distancing of the Divine Presence, and we also find the term ืืคืืื interpreted in the sense of withdrawal / setback (see Targum Yonatan and Metz. David to Judg. 20:39). In any case, the site was not totally wiped off the map forever, and some remnant thereof was allowed to remain.[37] This could seemingly be accredited to Abraham and his tireless pleas. Finally, we also asked above: What was Abrahamโs motive in pleading for the rescue of the evil Sodomites? Perhaps our Sages provided us with clues to the answer in the Midrashic works that expound on the verse, Go, descend - for your people (ืฉืึดืึตืช) have become corrupt (Ex. 32:7): Ex. Rabba (42:1) - โ[The term] ืฉืึดืึตืช can only mean that they corrupted their deeds.โ Tanchuma (Ki Tissa, 20) - "[The term] ืฉืึดืึตืช can only mean the spoiling of deeds.โ Hence, we see that the sin of the Golden Calf - the greatest sin in the history of the Jewish people - is nonetheless described โmerelyโ by the term ืืฉืืชื, which denotes spoilage and corruption. How is this possible? The survival of the Jewish people in this incident may also stem from the merit of our Forefather Abraham, who foresaw the future of his own people in his relentless pleas on behalf of the evil Sodomites. When trying to temper Godโs response to the Sodomitesโ sins, Abraham was also setting a precedent which would tone down His response to the Jewsโ later sins. In other words, whatever transgression Israel might commit in the future would surely not rise to the level of the evils of Sodom. Hence, if even Sodom itself was not completely wiped off the face of the earth, and it was โmerelyโ ื ืฉืืชื, it goes without saying that the Jewish people too deserve to survive forever. Godโs description of even the cataclysmic sin of the Golden Calf as ืฉืืช therefore serves to reaffirm Israelโs destiny to survive in perpetuity - and the Eternal One of Israel does not lie (I Sam. 15:29)! [1] ืชื ืืืื ืื ืชืฉื ืค' ื - ืืืจ ืืืฉื: ืึถืึฐ ืจึตื ืึผึดื ืฉืึดืึตืช ืขึทืึผึฐืึธ (ืฉื' ืื:ื), ืืื ืฉืืช ืืื ืงืืงืื ืืขืฉืื, ืฉื ืืืจ: ืฉืึดืึตืช ืืึน ืึนื ืึผึธื ึธืื ืืึผืึธื (ืื' ืื:ื). [2] ืฉืืืช ืจืื ืื:ื - ืืืจ ืืืฉื: ืึถืึฐ ืจึตื ืึผึดื ืฉืึดืึตืช ืขึทืึผึฐืึธ (ืฉื' ืื:ื), ืืืื ืฉืืช ืืื ืฉืืืื ืืขืฉืืื, ืื"ื: ืฉืึดืึตืช ืืึน ืึนื ืึผึธื ึธืื ืืึผืึธื (ืื' ืื:ื). [3] ืืจ' ื:ืื - ืึดืฆึผึดืืืึผ ืึทืฉืึฐืึดืืช ืึฒื ึธืฉืึดืื ืึดืึฐืึผึนืืึผ. ืืื' ืื:ื - ืึผึฐืฉืึทืึฐืชึผึธื ื ึดืชึฐืคึผึธืฉื. ืชื' ื ื:ืื - ืชึผืึนืจึดืึตื ืึดืึฐืึตืจ ืฉืึทืึทืช. [4] ืจืฉืจ"ื ืืจืืฉืืช ื:ืื - ืึทืชึผึดืฉึผืึธืึตืช ืึธืึธืจึถืฅ - 'ืฉืืช' ืืืจื ืขื ืงืืงืื, ืืื ืขื ืืฉืืื... ืืืจืืช ืืืกืื ืฉื 'ืฉืืช': ืืืจ. ืืืื ืืืืจื ืฉืืช ืืื ื ื ืืชืืืื ืืืืื... ืืื ืจืฆืื ื ืืชืช ืืืฉืื ืืคื ื ืืืืื ืืืจื; ืจืฉืจ"ื ืืืจืื ื:ืื - ืคึผึถื ืชึผึทืฉืึฐืึดืชืึผื - 'ืฉืืช' ืืื ืืืจ, ื'ืฉืืช' ืืฆืืื ืืช ืืฉืงืืขื, ืืช ืื ืคืืื ืื ืืืจื ืืืืืืื ืื ืืืฉืข ืืจืืื ื. [5] ืื' ืื:ืื - ืึธืฉืึฐืึธืชึธื ืึผึธืึถื ืืึผื ืึผึธื; ืช"ื - ืืืืืืื ืืืื ืืืื ืืืื. ืืื ืชืจืืืื ืฉื ืฉืจืฉ 'ืฉืืช' ืืื ืืงืื, ืืืื: ืืจ' ื:ืื - ืึฐืึนื ืึดืึฐืึถื ืขืึนื ืึทืึผืึผื ืึฐืฉืึทืึตืช ืึธืึธืจึถืฅ; ืช"ื - ืืื ืืื ืขืื ืืืคื ื ืืืืื ืืจืขื. "ืืืื" ืืชืืจืืืช ืืฉืืืจื: ืืฉืข' ื:ืื - ืึธืกืึผืจ ืกึปืึผึณืืึน ืึตืขึทื ืฉืึดืึฐืึถืึธ... ืึฐืึปืึผึทื ืขึนื ืึดืคึผึฐื ึตื ืฉืึธืึถื; ืช"ื - ืชึผึถืขึฐืึตื... ื ึดืืจึตืืึผ ืึตืขึทื ืฆึทืึฐืจึธืึฐ ืึฐืึดืชึผึฐืึฐืจืึผื ืขึทืึฐืึทืึธื ืึดื ืงึณืึธื ืึฐืฉืึดืืึธื. [6] ืืื ืืฆืืื ืืืจื ืืื ืคืื ืืงืืงืื, ืืืื ืืฆืื ื ืื ืืื "ืืืืื", ืืื ืฉืืืจื ืืืืจื: ื ืืจ' ืกื: - ืงืื ื ืฉืื ืืช ื ืื ืืช ืื ืขื ืฉืชืจืื ืืื ืืคื ืฉืืื; ืชืืก' - ืืื ืืคื - ืืืืืจ ืืคื ืืืื ืฉืื ืืืจ ืืคื, ืืื: ืึผืึฐืึทืคึผึทื ืึผึธืึทืง ืืืึผื (ืืืื ืื:ื). [7] ืื' ืื:ื - ืฉืึดืึตืช ืืึน ืึนื ืึผึธื ึธืื ืืึผืึธื; ืจืื"ื - ืฉืืช ืื ืื ืื ืื ืืืื - ืืืื ืืงืจื ืืฉืืชื, ืืื ืฉื ืืืจ: ืึผึดื ืึธืฉืึฐืึธืชึธื ืึผึธืึถื ืืึผื ืึผึธื (ืื' ืื:ืื), ืืื: ืึฐืึนืึตืึท ืึธืฉืึฐืึธืช ืื' (ืืืืื ื:ืื), ืืืืจ ืื ืืืื ืฉื ืืฉืจืื ืฉืืช ืืฆืืจ ืขืื ืื ืืืชื. [8] ืชื' ืฆื:ืื - ืขึทื ืึดืึผึธืจึถื ืึธืจึธืฉืึธืข ืฉืึธืึทืช. ืชื' ื ื:ืื - ืึฐืึทืชึผึธื ืึฑืึนืึดืื ืชึผืึนืจึดืึตื ืึดืึฐืึตืจ ืฉืึทืึทืช. [9] ืืจ' ื:ืื - ืึทืึผึทืจึฐื ืึฑืึนืึดืื ืึถืช ืึธืึธืจึถืฅ ืึฐืึดื ึผึตื ื ึดืฉืึฐืึธืชึธื ืึผึดื ืึดืฉืึฐืึดืืช ืึผึธื ืึผึธืฉืึธืจ ืึถืช ืึผึทืจึฐืึผืึน ืขึทื ืึธืึธืจึถืฅ. ืฉื' ืื:ื - ืึทืึฐืึทืึผึตืจ ื' ืึถื ืึนืฉืึถื ืึถืึฐ ืจึตื ืึผึดื ืฉืึดืึตืช ืขึทืึผึฐืึธ. [10] ืืจ' ืื:ืื - ืืึผืึทื ืึทืึฐืกึฐืจืึผื ืึฒืึดืฉึผืึดืื ืึทืฆึผึทืึผึดืืงึดื ืึฒืึดืฉึผืึธื ืึฒืชึทืฉืึฐืึดืืช ืึผึทืึฒืึดืฉึผืึธื ืึถืช ืึผึธื ืึธืขึดืืจ. [11] ื. ืฉ"ื ืื:ื - ืึผึฐืึทืึทืช ืึทืคึผึฐืึธืชึดืื. ืฉื ืื:ืื - ืึถื ืึทืคึผึทืึทืช ืึทืึผึธืืึนื. [12] ืืืงืจื ืื:ื ื - ืคึผึฐืึถืชึถืช ืึดืื. [13] ืืืืฉืข ืื:ื - ืึผึตืืช ืืึนืจึนื ืชึผึทืึฐืชึผืึนื. ื"ื ื:ื - ืึทืึผึธืฆึดืืขึท ืึทืชึผึทืึฐืชึผึนื ึธื. ืืฉืข' ืื:ื - ืฉืึฐืืึนื ืึดืชึผึทืึทืช ืจึธืึฐืึธื ืึฐืึธ.ืืฉืข' ืื:ืื - ืชึผึทืึฐืชึผึถืืึธ ืึปืฆึผึทืข ืจึดืึผึธื. [14] ืืฉืข' ื ื:ืื - ืชึผึทืึทืช ืึทื ึผึทืขึฒืฆืึผืฅ. ืืฉืข' ืก:ืื - ืชึผึทืึทืช ืึฑืืึนืชึตืึฐ ืขึฒืืึผืึธื ืึผืฉืึฐื ืึผืึธื. ืชื' ืื:ืื - ืชึผึทืึทืช ืึฒืึนืชึถืืึธ ืึดืึฐืืึผ ืึธื ึถืืึธ. ืืจ' ื:ื - ืึฒืชึทืึทืช ืึฑืึนืงึดืื ืึธื ึนืึดื. [15] ืฉ"ื ืื:ืื - ืึฒืชึทืึทืช ืึนืืช ืึนื ืืึผืึทืช ืฉืึดืึฐืขึดื. ืื' ืื:ืื - ืชึผึทืึทืช ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืึนื ืขึธืึทืึฐืชึผึธ. [16] ืืกืชืจ ื:ืื - ืึฐื ึถืึฐืชึผึธื ืึผึฐืึทืึผึทืขึทืช ืึทืึผึถืึถืึฐ. [17] ืืฉืื ืื:ืื - ืึผึดื ืึถืึธืึดืื ืึทืชึผึธื ืึนืชึถื ืขึทื ืจึนืืฉืืึน; ื"ืฉ ื:ืก,ื (ืช"ื) - ืึถืึธืึดืื ืึทืชึผึธื ืึนืชึถื ืขึทื ืจึนืืฉืืึน (ืืฉืื ืื:ืื) - ืืืจืื ืกืชื. ืื ืืฉืืข ืืืฉืื ืืืจืฉ ืฉืื ืืื ืืคืจืฉืชืื ื: ืฉืื ืืื (ืืืืจ) ืืจืืฉืืช ืื:ืื - ืื' ืึดืึฐืึดืืจ ืขึทื ืกึฐืึนื ืึฐืขึทื ืขึฒืึนืจึธื ืึผึธืคึฐืจึดืืช... ืืฉืืื ืื ืื ืจืขืืื ืืืืืจ ืืื ืืื ืื ืืฉืืื, ืืืฉืืจืื ืกืืืืืื ืืชื ืขืืืื ืืืืื. [18] ืืจืืื ืื:ืื - ืึดื ืึตืึทืช ืขึธืึตืื ืึผ; ืืฆ"ืฆ - ืืืช - ืขื ืื ืืจืืื ืืื ืืฆืื ื ืืชื ืื (ืชืืืื ืื). ืชืืืื ืื:ื - ืึทืชึผึดื ึฐืึทืช ืขึธืึทื ืึธืึถืึธ; ืืฆ"ืฆ - ื ืืชื, ืืชื ืืช - ืขื ืื ืืจืืื ืืื ืื ืืืช ืขืืื ื (ืืจืืืื ืื). [19] ืขืื ืื ืื ืคื ืืชื (ืืจ' ืื:ืื), ืืืชืืชื ื ืืชื ื (ืืจ' ืื:ื). [20] ื"ืฉ ื:ืงืื,ื (ืช"ื) - ืฉื 'ืืช' - ืืืืจืืช ืืฉืงืืขื ืืืืจืืื... ืืืื ืขื ืื ื ืืช ืจืื - ืืืขื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืื. ืืืฉืจืฉ 'ืืช' ื ืืืจ ืืืช "ืืชื", ืืื: ืขืื ืื ืื ืคื ืืชื (ืืจ' ืื:ืื), ืืืชืืชื ื ืืชื ื (ืืจ' ืื:ื). ืฉืืื ืื ืฉืงืื ื ืื ืื ืื ืืืฉืคืื ืืืฉืชืงืข ืื. [21] ืืจ' ื:ื - ืึทืึผึธืฉืึนืึผืึผ ืึทืึผึธืึดื; ืช"ื - ืืืฉืชืืื ืืื. ืื' ืื:ื - ืึทืึฒืฉืึดืึผึนืชึดื... ืชึผึฐืึปื ึผืึนืช ืึผึฐื ึตื ืึดืฉืึฐืจึธืึตื; ืช"ื - ืืืืฉืืื... ืชืืจืขืืืช ื"ื. ืฉืืค' ื:ืื - ืืชืฉืงื... ืืจืืขืื ืฉื ื; ืช"ื - ืืฉืืืืช... ืืจืืขืื ืฉื ืื. ื"ื ืื:ื - ืืืขืืจ ืฉืงืื; ืช"ื - ืืงืจืชื ืฉืืืืช. ืืกืชืจ ื:ื - ืืืืช ืืืื ืฉืืื; ืชืจืืื - ืืจืชืื ืืืืื ืืฉืชืืืืช. ืชื' ืฆ:ืื - ืืืืจืืชื ืขืืจืชื; ืชืจืืื - ืฆืืืงืื ืืืืืื ืื ื ืืฉืืืื ืจืืืื. [22] ืืจ' ืื:ืื - ืึฐืึทืึฐืชึผึทืชึผึดื ืึถืช ืขึตืืึธื. ืฉื ื ื:ื ื - ืึฐื ึดืึฐืึผึฐืืึผ ืึผึดืึผืึนืจึถืืึธ ืึดืชึผึฐืชึธื ืงึทืฉึผืึฐืชืึนืชึธื. [23] ืื' ื:ืื - ืึทื ืชึผึดืืจึธื ืึฐืึทื ืชึผึตืึธืช. ืืฉืข' ื:ื - ืึตืึทืช ืึถืคึฐืจึทืึดื ืึตืขึธื. [24] ืื ืืื ื:ืื - ื ึถืึฐืชึผึทืึฐ ืขึทื ืขึทืึผึฐืึธ ืึฐืขึทื ืขึดืืจ ืงึธืึฐืฉืึถืึธ; ืืฆ"ืฆ - ื ืืชื - ื ืืืจ ืื ืฉื ืืื ืื ืืขื ืื ืืจืืชื. [25] ืฉืืืช ืื:ื - ืึดื ืึผึทืึผึทืึฐืชึผึถืจึถืช ืึดืึผึธืฆึตื ืึทืึผึทื ึผึธื. ืืืืงืื ื:ื - ืึธืึถืึฐืชึผึนืจ ืึผึทืงึผึดืืจ. [26] ืืืื ื:ืื - ืึตื ืึทืึฐืชึผึนืฃ ืึดื ืึฐืฉืึดืืึถื ึผืึผ; ืื"ืข - ืื ืืืชืืฃ - ืืฉืืืช ืืื: ืึผึฐืึถืชึถืฃ ืชึผึถืึฑืจึนื (ืืฉืื ืื:ืื). ืืืืจ ืืฉืืื ืจืื"ืข ืืช ืฉืจืฉ 'ืืชืฃ' ื'ืืืฃ' - ืฉื ืืื ืืืจืื ืขื ืืืืื / ืชืคืืฉื: ืืฉืื ืื:ืื - ืึทืฃ ืึดืื ืึผึฐืึถืชึถืฃ ืชึผึถืึฑืจึนื; ืื"ืข ืืืช"ื (ืชืืจืช ืืืื) - ืืฃ ืืื - ืืืื ื ืืคื ืฉืชืืื ืืืืฃ ืืื ืฉืื, ืืื ืชืืจืื ืืื ืืช ืขืืื. ืืืงืื ืืืจ ืคืืจืฉ ืจืื"ืข ืืช ืืืช "ืืชืฉืืืชื" ืืืฉืื ืืืืคื: ืฉื' ื:ืื - ืึธื ึนืึดื ื ึนืึตืฃ... ืึผึทืฆึฐืคึทืจึฐืึผึฐืขึดืื; ืื"ืข - ื ืืฃ ืืื ืืฉืืืช, ืืื ืืชืื: ืึผืฆึฐืคึทืจึฐืึผึตืขึท ืึทืชึผึทืฉืึฐืึดืืชึตื (ืชื' ืขื:ืื)... ืืืจื ืฉืืื ืืื ืื... ืืืืฆื ืื ืื ืืจ ืืืืืฃ ืื ื ืืื (ืืื ื ืื"ื ืืจืฉื ืืช ืืคืกืืง ืืชืืืื ืขื:ืื ืฉืฆืืื ืจืื"ืข ืืฆืืจื ืืืจืช [ืจืื ืฉื"ืจ ืื ืื:ืื; ืฉื ืืืจื ื:ื]). [27] ืืืื ื:ื - ืึฐืฉืึดืืึท ื' ื ึดืึฐืึผึทื ืึผึดืฉืึฐืึดืืชืึนืชึธื; ืจืฉ"ื - ืืฉืืืชืืชื - ืืืืืืช ืฉืืคืจื; ืื"ืข - ืืฉืืืชืืชื - ืืื: ืึผึฐืฉืึทืึฐืชึผึธื ื ึดืชึฐืคึผึธืฉื (ืืื' ืื:ื). [28] ืืื' ื:ืื - ืึผึถื ืึธืึธื ืึถืช ืึฐืจืึนืขึท ืคึผึทืจึฐืขึนื ืึถืึถืึฐ ืึดืฆึฐืจึทืึดื ืฉืึธืึธืจึฐืชึผึดื ืึฐืึดื ึผึตื ืึนื ืึปืึผึฐืฉืึธื ืึธืชึตืช ืจึฐืคึปืืึนืช ืึธืฉืืึผื ืึดืชึผืึผื ืึฐืึธืึฐืฉืึธืึผ ืึฐืึธืึฐืงึธืึผ ืึดืชึฐืคึผึนืฉื ืึผึถืึธืจึถื. ืืื ืืจืืื ืืืืืื, ืืืื ืืชืงื ืืช ืืืืจื ืืืืื ืืจืืคืคืืช: ืืืืงืื ืื:ื - ืึผึฐืืึนื ืืึผืึผึถืึถืช ืึนืชึธืึฐ... ืึฐืึธืึฐืชึผึตื ืึนื ืึปืชึผึธืึฐืชึผึฐ; ืจื"ืง - ืืื ืฉืืืคืคืื ืืช ืืืื ืืืืชืืื ืืืชื ืืืชืืช ืืืืื ืืงืืฉืจืื ืืืชื ืืชืงื ืืืืจืื ืืืืฉืจื. [29] ืืืืื ื"ืืืืช" ืื ืืจ ืืืืืืื ืืชื ืืืืื ืช ืฉืื ืืืืื, ืืืืืื, ืืืืืืื ืืืืืื ืืืืืืื- ืืช ืื ืื ืืจ, (ืืืืื ืืงืืจืื ืืื "ืชืชืืืืื" ื'ืืื' ืืืจืฉืชื ื"ื: "ืื ืชืชืืืืื" - ืื ืชืขืฉื ืืืืืืช). [30] ืืจ' ืื:ืื - ืึฐืึถืจึฐืึถื ืึทืึผึฐืฆึทืขึฒืงึธืชึธืึผ ืึทืึผึธืึธื ืึตืึทื ืขึธืฉืืึผ ืึผึธืึธื; ืช"ื - ืืืืื ืืืงืืืืชืืื ืืขืืช ืืงืืื ืขืืื ืืขืืื ืขืืืื ืืืืจื ืืื ืช"ื (ืืจ' ื:ืื). ืืืื ืืฉืื ืืืืื, ืืืื: ืชื' ื:ื - ืึดืึฐืึธืจ ื ึธื ืจึทืข ืจึฐืฉืึธืขึดืื; ืจืฉ"ื - ืืืืจ - ื' ืืืืื, ืืื ืคืชืจ ืื ืื: ืืืจ ืืืจ (ืชื' ืขื), ืืืจ ืืกืื (ืฉื ืื) ืืื ืืื. [31] ืจืฉ"ื ืืจ' ืื:ืื - ืืื ืขืืืืื ืืืจืื, ืืื ืื ื ืขืืฉื ืืื. [32] ืืืงืืืืช ืืืจืื "ืืื" ืืชืืจืืืช "ืฉืืฆื" (ืืจืืชื): ืื' ืื:ืื - ืึดืึผึธืึฐืืึผ ืึดืชึผืึนืึฐ ืึธืขึตืึธื ืึทืึผึนืืช ืึทืึฒืึทืึผึถื ืึนืชึธื ืึผึฐืจึธืึทืข; ืช"ื - ืึฐืึตืืฉืึตืืฆึตื ืึทืชึฐืืึนื. ืื' ืื:ืื - ืึดืฆึผึทื ืึฒืึทืึผึถื ืึผึธื; ืช"ื - ืืฉืืฆื ืืืื. [33] ืืจ' ืื:ืื-ืื - ืึทืึผึดืึผึทืฉื ืึทืึฐืจึธืึธื ืึทืึผึนืืึทืจ ืึทืึทืฃ ืชึผึดืกึฐืคึผึถื ืฆึทืึผึดืืง ืขึดื ืจึธืฉืึธืข. ืืึผืึทื ืึตืฉื ืึฒืึดืฉึผืึดืื ืฆึทืึผึดืืงึดื ืึผึฐืชืึนืึฐ ืึธืขึดืืจ ืึทืึทืฃ ืชึผึดืกึฐืคึผึถื ืึฐืึนื ืชึดืฉึผืึธื ืึทืึผึธืงืึนื. [34] ืืจ' ืื:ืื - ืคึผึถื ืชึผึดืกึผึธืคึถื ืึผึทึฝืขึฒืึนื ืึธืขึดึฝืืจ; ืช''ื - ืึผึดืืึฐืึธื ืชึดืึฐืงึตื ืึผึฐืืึนืึตื ืงึทืจึฐืชึผึธื: ืื:ืื - ืึธืึธืจึธื ืึดืึผึธืึตื ืคึผึถื ืชึผึดืกึผึธืคึถึฝื; ืช''ื - ืึฐืืึผืจึธื ืึดืฉืึฐืชึผึฐืึตื ืึผึดืึฐืึธื ืชึดืึฐืงึตื. [35] ืืจ' ืื:ืื - ืึทืึผึดืจึฐืืึผ ืึนืชืึน ืึตึฝืจึธืึนืง ืึผืึฐืึถืจึถื ืึดืงึฐืจึทื ืึฒืึตืืึถื ืึทืึผึดืชึฐื ึทืึผึฐืืึผ ืึนืชืึน ืึทึฝืึฒืึดืืชึฝืึน; ืช''ื - ืึทืึฒืืึน ืึธืชึตืึผ ืึตืจึธืึดืืง ืึฐืขึทื ืึธื ืงึฐืจึตืื ืึฐืึธืชึฐืืึนื ืึฐืึทืฉึผืึดืืืึผ ืขึฒืืึนืึดื ืึฐืึดืงึฐืึฐืึตืึผ. [36] ืฉื ืืฉืื ืืฆืืืงืื ืืขื ืื ืื, ืืคื ืฉืืฉืืข ืืจืฉ"ื ืืืืืจืฉ ืขื ืคื ืคืืจืืฉ ืจืข"ื: ืืจืืฉืืช ืื:ืื, ืื - ืืึผืึทื ืึตืฉื ืึฒืึดืฉึผืึดืื ืฆึทืึผึดืืงึดื... ืึทืึฒืึทืึผึฐืจึธื ืึทืึฐ ืึทืคึผึทืขึทื ืืึผืึทื ืึดืึผึธืฆึฐืืึผื ืฉืึธื ืขึฒืฉืึธืจึธื; ืจืฉ"ื - ืขื ืคืืืช ืื ืืงืฉ. ืืืจ ืืืจ ืืืืื ืืื ืฉืืื ื, ื ื ืืื ืื ืื ืฉืืื ืืื ืืฆืืื ืขื ืืืจื [ืข"ืค ื"ืจ ืื:ืื]; ืคืืจืืฉ ืจ' ืขืืืืื ืืืจืื ืืจื ืืืฉืืช ืื:ืื - ืฉืืืจืื ืื ืืงืฉ ืขื ืคืืืช ืืขืฉืจื ืฉืืื ืกืืืจ ืฉืืืื ืืกืืื ืขืฉืจื ืฆืืืงืื ืืื ืืืฉืชื ืื' ืื ืืชืื ืื' ืืชื ืื ืืจื ืขืฉืจื. [37] ืฉืืจื ืืขืืจ ืฆืืขืจ ืื ื ืืจืื, ืืืฉืืขืืช ืืืชืื (ืื' ืื:ืื, ืืจ' ืื:ื-ืื, ืจืฉ"ื ืื:ืื. ืื"ื ืฉื ืืจืื ืื"ื; ืจืื ืคื ืื ืืคืืช ืืจ' ืื:ื. ืืจืื ืื ืจืื"ื ืืจ' ืื:ื ืืขื ืื ืื). ืืืฃ ืืขืืจ ืกืืื ืฉื ืืคืื, ืืื ืชื ืคืืจืฉ ืฉืืฉืืขืืช "ืืคืืื" ืืื ืจืืืืง ืืฉืืื ื ืืื ื (ืืื ืืฉืืขืืช ืฉื ืืืื ืืืืื): ืขืืืก ื:ืื - ืึธืคึทืึฐืชึผึดื ืึธืึถื ืึผึฐืึทืึฐืคึผึตืึทืช ืึฑืึนืึดืื ืึถืช ืกึฐืึนื ืึฐืึถืช ืขึฒืึนืจึธื; ืช"ื - ืจึธืึตืืง ืึตืืึฐืจึดื ืึทืชึฐืืึนื ืึผึฐืึธื ืึฐืจึธืึตืืง ืึฐืึธ ืึทืช ืกึฐืืึนื ืึฐืึทืช ืขึฒืืึนืจึธื. ืืืฆืื ื ืฉืืืจืืช "ืืคืืื" ืืื ืืืจื ืืืืืจ/ ื ืกืืื [ืืื ืืืื]: ืฉืืค' ื:ืื - ืึทืึผึทืึฒืคึนืึฐ ืึดืืฉื ืึดืฉืึฐืจึธืึตื ืึผึทืึผึดืึฐืึธืึธื; ืช"ื - ืึฐืึดืชึฐืึฒืึทืจ ืึฑื ึทืฉื ืึดืฉืึฐืจึธืึตื ืึผึดืงึฐืจึธืึธื; ืืฆ"ื - ืืขืช ืืฉืจ ื ืืคื ืืืฉ ืืฉืจืื ืื ืืก).
- yehoshua steinberg
Vayeira: Political Capital Wasted on Sodom? - yehoshua steinberg
Updated: Dec 2, 2022