1. Parsha Summary – Parshat Vayera
(Genesis 18:1 - Genesis 22:24 link to Sefaria here)
Circumcision and Guests: Avraham is recovering from a circumcision when he sees three guests coming. He eagerly brings them into his home and prepares a lavish feast. The guests come bearing good news: Sarah will bear a child next year.
Protesting for Sodom: God informs Avraham that He plans to destroy the evil city of Sodom. Avraham protests with a moral argument: if there are X number of righteous people, then God ought to keep the city. But when God can’t find even 10, God decides to destroy it.
Destroying Sodom: The messengers then go to Sodom. While they’re there they witness horrible abuse – justifying God’s decision to destroy such a toxic society. They are barely able to retrieve Lot and his family. Lot makes his daughters think they are the only women alive; they get their father drunk and they create Amon and Moav with him.
Avraham and Sarah in Plishtim: They go through the same thing all over again – saying that she’s his sister and then the king takes her and eventually the couple comes back to Israel with great wealth.
Yitzchak’s birth: After a long wait – Avraham and Sarah finally become parents!!
Akedat Yishmael: After Yishmael “plays” with Yitzchak, Sarah expels Hagar and Yishmael. Though he almost dies, he’s miraculously saved.
Wells: Avraham digs up wells and the Plishtim try to plug them up. Avraham then makes peace.
Akedat Yitzchak: God commands Avraham to sacrifice his son – and he is about to – but then in the last moment, an angel intervenes thus saving Yitzchak’s life. Avraham offers up a ram instead.
2. Story context – The Binding of Isaac
(Genesis Bereshit 22:1-24, link to Sefaria here)
Section 1 – Breishit 22:1-2 G-d Tells Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac
Section 2 – Breishit 22:3-8 Abraham and Isaac journey to the location
Section 3 – Breishit 22:9-14 An angel of G-d intervenes and a ram is sacrificed instead
Section 4 – Breishit 22:15-24 Abraham’s descendents are blessed and Rebecca is born
3.Paintings
AlHaTorah interpretation, link here
4. Discussion Questions
The text leaves these points ambiguous; in making their art, the the artist takes their liberty in imagining the answers to these questions:
1. How was Sodom destroyed: Was it an earthquake, fire, or hail?
2. Who: In the narrative, the messengers were called both “men” and “angles.” Who led Lot and his family out of Sodom?
3. Mrs. Lot: What happened to her?
4. Discussion Questions
The text leaves these points ambiguous; in making their art, the the artist takes their liberty in imagining the answers to these questions:
1. The Type of Intervention: Is it an intellectual discussion, or a physical altercation?
2. The location of the sacrifice: Is the spot hidden or out in the open? What are context clues for where they are? What prominence does the altar take?
3. Abraham and Isaac’s Reaction: What facial expressions are seen on both? How active or passive are they each being?
(1) Lot Flees Sodom, Nuremberg Chronicle
(2) The Burning of Sodom, Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot
(1) Sacrifice of Isaac, Paolo Veronese
(2) Sacrifice of Isaac, Caravaggio
Parshat Vayera פרשת וירא
Piece Description, “Vayera”
I painted the scene from Parshat Vayera where Avraham is greeted by angels. To display this story I used watercolors and gouache in a comic book format. I used this format to make it easier to portray the story. I used bright colors for the outfits of each character to stand out against the dull colors of the desert in the background. In the first frame Avraham sits in front of his tent, resting. The angels are seen in the background, sent by god to help Avraham recover. The second frame shows the angels eating and they are served by Avraham. Towards the back of this scene you can see Avraham talking with one of the angels while he is serving them. This shows that Avraham was a good host and he enjoyed hosting guests. Finally, the third picture depicts an angel talking with Avraham in the background. The angel tells Avraham that in a year’s time, Avraham and Sarah will have a child. In the foreground you can see Sarah, behind a tent, laughing.
1. Parsha Summary – Parshat Vayera
(Genesis 18:1 - Genesis 22:24 link to Sefaria here)
Circumcision and Guests: Avraham is recovering from a circumcision when he sees three guests coming. He eagerly brings them into his home and prepares a lavish feast. The guests come bearing good news: Sarah will bear a child next year.
Protesting for Sodom: God informs Avraham that He plans to destroy the evil city of Sodom. Avraham protests with a moral argument: if there are X number of righteous people, then God ought to keep the city. But when God can’t find even 10, God decides to destroy it.
Destroying Sodom: The messengers then go to Sodom. While they’re there they witness horrible abuse – justifying God’s decision to destroy such a toxic society. They are barely able to retrieve Lot and his family. Lot makes his daughters think they are the only women alive; they get their father drunk and they create Amon and Moav with him.
Avraham and Sarah in Plishtim: They go through the same thing all over again – saying that she’s his sister and then the king takes her and eventually the couple comes back to Israel with great wealth.
Yitzchak’s birth: After a long wait – Avraham and Sarah finally become parents!!
Akedat Yishmael: After Yishmael “plays” with Yitzchak, Sarah expels Hagar and Yishmael. Though he almost dies, he’s miraculously saved.
Wells: Avraham digs up wells and the Plishtim try to plug them up. Avraham then makes peace.
Akedat Yitzchak: God commands Avraham to sacrifice his son – and he is about to – but then in the last moment, an angel intervenes thus saving Yitzchak’s life. Avraham offers up a ram instead.
2. Story context – Lot Flees
(Genesis Bereshit 19:12-26, link to Sefaria here)
Section 1 – Breishit 19:12-13 The angels ask who is home so everyone can get out
Section 2 – Breishit 19:14-15 The angels get Lot to take out his wife and two daughters
Section 3 – Breishit 19:16-23 The escape from Sodom
Section 4 – Breishit 19:24-26 Sodom is destroyed and Lot’s wife becomes a pillar of salt
3.Paintings
AlHaTorah interpretation, link here
THE FIRST SOURCE SHEET THAT THEY STUDIED TOGETHER
Student: Kalanit Shmuel and Mentor: Richard McBee
THE SECOND SOURCE SHEET THAT THEY STUDIED TOGETHER
Learn more about Kalanit Shmuel here
Learn more about Richard McBee here
