Parashat Vayera - Morality and Sacrifices

This parashah is so rich and action-packed that I'm not even scratching the surface of doing it justice in this post. Try to get to shul this Shabbat to re-learn this parashah, or spend some time reading it this week. Vayera is probably familiar from elementary school, but you will approach it now with a more mature outlook, and maybe these or other questions will come to mind.

• Morality

The parashah opens with angels visiting Avraham, and we see him setting the example for hachnasat orchim - hospitality - that has influenced his descendants for generations. The angel informs Avraham that Sarah will give birth within one year, and then Hashem informs Avraham that He plans to destroy the corrupt city of Sodom and its suburbs. As Avraham starts famously bargaining with Hashem (if there be 50 tzaddikim, 45, 40, down to 10), he challenges Him:

Will You sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous within the city; will You sweep away and not forgive the place for the fifty righteous that are in it? It is profane of You (chalilah lecha) to do this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, that so the righteous should be equated with the wicked; it is profane of you (chalilah lecha) -- shall not the Judge of all the earth do justly?! (18:23-26)

Avraham is basically saying to God: "You are not living up to Your own standards of morality. How can You do something which is unjust, when You are the Source of justice?" Putting aside Avraham's brazenness (why wasn't he afraid to speak to God that way?) his question seems paradoxical. If God wants to do something, isn't that action by definition good and just? How can one challenge God on the basis of justice while at the same time acknowledging (as Avraham does) that He is the basis of justice?

• Sacrifice

At the end of the parashah, Hashem tells Avraham to offer Yitzchak, the son He had promised Avraham, as a sacrifice. Avraham's willingness sets an example of sacrifice for his descendants for all generations. But when are we called upon to sacrifice in the same way?

Last week my family lived for four days without heat or electricity (we did have hot water though, B"H). Some of my kids missed school, they did homework by candlelight, and we all shivered at night. We were very uncomfortable, but I don't think that was sacrifice, because it wasn't for any greater cause. At the exact same time, a friend told me, schools in Be'er Sheva were cancelled for at least 3 days because of missiles coming from Aza. I think that was sacrifice, of comfort and daily routines, and it was for a greater cause - a life in Eretz Yisrael.

On the other hand, Avraham didn't actually have to give up his son. Other Jews throughout history have had to make that ultimate sacrifice. Avraham is praised because he was willing, but he didn't have to actually sacrifice. What of those who are not willing, or have no choice, but who actually do sacrifice?