Dvar Torah - Rabbi David Silverberg,
Israel Koschitzky Virtual Beit Midrash
November 19, 2016
18 Cheshvan, 5777
The Torah in Parashat Vayera (18:20) tells of God’s decision to eradicate
the sinful city of Sedom: He tells Avraham, “The cry of Sedom and
Amora is so great, and their sin is so grave. I shall go down and see if
its cry warrants its annihilation…” The Radak, among others, explains
the “cry” (“za’akat”) mentioned in this verse as referring to the cries of
the oppressed victims of Sedom’s cruel society. God announced that
He would assess the level of cruelty in Sedom and its surrounding
towns to determine whether the people of the region were deserving
of annihilation.
Shabbat Vayeira
Torah Reading
pg. 78
Haftorah 1134
Commenting on this verse in his Divrei Shaul (Mahadura Tinyana),
Rav Yosef Shaul Nathanson writes that the “cry” of victims is often
exaggerated. Occasionally, people who have endured a minor offense
or sustained a small financial loss due to somebody else’s wrongdoing
overreact and “cry” as though they endure a grave crisis. This, Rav
Nathanson suggests, is the meaning of this verse, in which God informs
Avraham of His considerations regarding Sedom. The piercing cries
rising from the victims of Sedom were indeed significant, but these
cries did not necessarily testify to severe oppression. God said He
needed to “go down and see if its cry warrants its annihilation,” if the
cries of pain truly signal that the society is overrun by cruelty.
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Our
Bat Mitzvah
Of course, as we know, God quickly determined
that indeed, the cries arising from Sedom were
genuine and a true testament to the society’s
heartlessness, that the people were cruel and
ruthless, and thus deserving of destruction.
However, Rav Nathanson’s explanation of this
verse reminds us that not all “cries” are accurate
reflections of the injustice committed. Although
God hears the pained cries of victims of torment
and oppression (Shemot 22:22-23), this is true
only of cries which are commensurate with the
pain inflicted. We are to avoid exaggerated “cries”
of victimhood. Not every injustice deserves the
response of the victims of Sedom’s crimes.
Some offenses can and should be handled with
maturity and grace, without excessive “cries.”
God reacts harshly to oppression, but pays no
heed to false or exaggerated cries of victimhood.
The fate of Sedom was sealed only after God
determined that the victims’ cries were genuine
and real, teaching us that not all “cries” are
justified, and that we must avoid exaggerated
responses to slight offenses.
Our heartfelt condolences to Shelley Saltzman
and family on the passing of her mother,
Alma Saltzman z’l.
Isabella Rose Leipsic
***
Our heartfelt condolences to Dr. Ruth Grunau
and family on the passing of her mother,
Chana Kent, z’l. The funeral was held in Israel
on Thursday, and the family will be observing
shiva here in Vancouver, Tuesday, Nov. 22,
7:00 pm at 809 West 24th Avenue.
***
Mazel Tov to Bella Leipsic on the occasion
of her Bat Mitzvah. Mazel Tov to her
parents Dr. Jonathon & Karly Leipsic, to
her grandparents Beth and Leon Bogner,
to Karen & Peter Leipsic, and to all her family
and friends.
***
Our thanks to Jonathon and Karly Leipsic for
sponsoring the Congregational Kiddush and
Premier Scotch in honour of Bella’s Bat Mitzvah
and our incredible shul and community.
***
Our thanks to Brian and Dalia Bressler for
sponsoring the Premier Scotch last night in
honour of Isabella Leipsic’s Bat Mitzvah.
***
Our thanks to Jeremy Finkleman & Mahla
Shapiro for sponsoring Premier Scotch in
honor of Dan Shmilovitch’s hard work and
dedication to our Shul.
***
Our thanks to Ida and Odie Kaplan for
sponsoring the Sunday morning breakfast
in loving memory of the yahrzeit of
Abrasha Kaplan z’l .
is our Bat Mitzvah girl this
week. Bella is the daughter
of Jonathon & Karly Leipsic, and is the
older sister to Carsyn and Ty. Bella is a
Grade 7 student at Vancouver Talmud
Torah where she has been a student since
Pre-school 3. She says her favourite subjects
in school are the projects that have to do
with Tikun Olam – the Mitzvah Project and
Roots and Wings. For fun she is an artist
at heart – she likes to dance, sing, do art
projects, and hang out with her friends. To
get ready for her Bat Mitzvah, Bella attended
the Bar & Bat Mitzvah classes here at Schara
Tzedeck and studied with her Mom and
Dad, Rabbi Rosenblatt and Reverend
Marciano. She says the focus of her Bat
Mitzvah learning was on the story of Cain
and Abel, the family and the importance
of taking care of one another. While she
says sometimes she and her siblings don’t
always agree, she knows that ultimately
family comes first.
Mazel Tov, Bella! This is one simcha
where you are the star of the show!!