What would having Tzadikim around have helped with? A: The Iben Ezra says they need to be Tzadikim inside the city (inside meaning the same thing that it meant by Gan Eden —> in the middle of the garden – public view) Tzadikim are not private rather their relationship with Hashem is public, they fear Hashem in public. Not all Tzadkikim would have helped, the kind of Tzadikim Avraham needed tzadikim that would spread their relationship with Hashem to other people Why should Avraham have to pray that Hashem shouldn’t destroy the Tzadikim with the Rashim? How could G-D possibly do such a thing? A: The Malbim says if your only a tzadik relative to other people (you keep shabbat but no one else does — its very good but that's not going to be enough to save you) you need to be a complete Tzadik not just relative to the people of Sedom who were bad but one that is one that is a above and beyond, even in a good place, that person would be saved How does Rambam offer a different answer? What do you think Rambam's rationale is that a righteous person can be destroyed just because he lives in a society that is mostly evil? A: Rambam explains that even if a person is good, and choose to live in a wicked society they are partly responsible for the actions of the community. Hashem wouldn’t destroy a completely righteous person. But if someone didn’t try to improve their society or help others become better, they share in the guilt. So, it's not just about your own actions—it’s also about what you do (or don’t do) for your community. Why do you think Avraham stopped at 10? Why didn’t he go lower? A: Rashi says 50 because of 10 for each city 45 because it could be 9 for each city and then Hashem would join the 9 40 because if i can't say all 5 cities, at least i can say 4 cities same things as 30,20 and 10 They did not go lower because he already asked for 9, when he asked for 45 that's nine with Hashem, which is why he does not need to ask for nine. These were Abraham’s arguments Avraham prayed for Hashem not to destroy the Tzadikim. What problem did we have with this? A: Why would we expect Hashem to destroy good people? What were the 2 answers we saw to this question above? Rambam says: Just like an individual is judged based on most of their actions (mitzvot or sins) so too is a city/nation judged on what most people are → Tzadikim or Rashim. A Tzadik living in a Rasha society would be destroyed Malbin says: Complete Tzadikim would NOT be destroyed, since they do everything in their power to help Rashim. Only non complete Tzadikim would have been destroyed Avraham first prays for 50 → 45→ 40→ 30→ 20→10 Tzadikim. Why start high and not at the bottom? Why these numbers? Why stop at 10? A: 45 which makes it 9 tzadikim for each city, and Hashem which makes it ten, who is the Tzadik (the one who justifies) the world will join them. If you need a minyan (10) people and you have (9) Hashem will be the one to fill in to have 10. What is the connection between tefillah and a minyan to save Sedom? A: It's a smaller version of society, and it’s enough to make a minyan What was the lowest number of Tzadikim that Avraham asked should be enough to save sedom? A: 9 with Hashem Why didn’t Avraham ask lower than that number? A: Because back in the time of the flood 8 wasn’t enough to save the people “Hashem tested Avraham” What question did we ask about this? A: What’s the point of Hashem testing Avraham if He knows what is exactly going to happen? What were the 3 different reasons for tests we saw in the midrash? The farmer relies on a strong cow to plow the field. Sales person shows off strong product to customer The farmer beats flax to make it more valuable. Give an example of each type of test from the previous question in your life A coach picks their best player to take the winning shot in a big game. Phone case company when they ask influences to drop their phone with their case to show people it is a good phone case and didn’t break The karate coach beats up the Karate kid in class. It's not to hurt the kid but to help improve him. Who or what is benefiting in each 3 examples (Rabbis opinions)? How might that answer why Hashem tests Tzadikim? A: The 1st and 2nd one can apply for the testing of Avraham. Hashem is testing Avraham either so he can have emunah or random people to see look how good Avraham is How might each Mashal explain the story of Akeidat Yitzchak? Avraham will develop emunah for Hashem Hashem will spread Avraham’s victories/good times for people to see Page 87: Gemara King: Hashem Warrior: Avraham The previous wars: 9 tests before The “fierce war”: Akeidat Yitzcak Please: Your (Avraham) doing something for the king your beniting the king. By doing this test it will show look how great Hashem is STORY: Abraham is a warrior, he wins 9 times, and the 10th time. Hashem says “Please I need you to do this for Me, because if you don't win this last battle everyone would say the last 9 were fake. If Abraham wins Hashem will benefit because everyone would say oh He is amazing Page 86: Rabbi Person/thing benefiting Purpose of test Rabbi Yonah Better quality (Object is improving) Makes object stronger Rav Yehudah Bar Shalom Show off (Benefiting customers) Could break so maybe that person won’t show off anymore Rav Elazar Farmer is relying on the stronger cow (Farmer is benefiting) For other people to see how strong it is Page 89: Who were they? A: Yishmael and Eliezer (Avraham’s servant/youths) Simple meaning of “He saddled”: Avraham commanded the 2 youths to saddle his donkey. Question: Why is this important to know that he saddled his donkey? Rashi says: Abraham saddled the doney himself, and did not command one of his servants to do it because love makes a person act irrationally Explanation: It would have made more sense for someone of Avraham’s position to command someone else to do it. However, because of his tremendous love for Hashem he wanted to do it for himself. This is impressive because he is being asked to sacrifice his own son which can be hard to do. Example: “Trump made a tariff (Tax on imports) this statement means that Trump signed/gave the order, and other people fulfilled/did it Mizrachi Commentary: How do we know that Rashi is correct, and that Avraham didn’t just command someone? A: Because if Avraham was just commanding the youths, it would be important for us to know that and the Torah would have mentioned it. This is assuming that everything the Torah says is to teach us something that is relevant to us. Page 100: According to the Torah who’s test was it, Avrahams or Yitzchaks? A: Avraham's we see this in Pasuk Aleph when it says “After these things Hashem tested Avraham” According to the מי שילוח what was the difference between Yitzchaks challenge in this story and Avrahams challenge? How do we know it’s not Yitzchaks test? Yitzchak just had to believe his father and there is a mitzvah to believe in a prophet. Avraham—> Hashem is asking him to do something so extreme which makes him wonder if he might have misunderstood Him According to העמק דבר why didn’t the Torah call any of these previous tests actually tests? A: Every other test Hashem really intended to achieve something else (eg. Ur Kasim— for everyone to believe in Hashem, but not primarily for Avraham to grow) Based on your answer to the previous question, what was unique about Akeidat Yitzchak? A: The only point Akeidat Yitzchak was for Avraham to develop his own sense of trust in Hashem *Our question*: Didn’t Avraham show this in his other tests? Based on your answer for the previous two questions, why wasn’t it Yitzchak’s test? A: Because the point of the test was to improve Avraham’s trust in Hashem. The 10 tests of Avraham — According to Rabbi Ovadia Bartenura Ur Kasdim- Chooses to jump into fire over worshipping idols Lech Lecha- Told by Hashem to leave his home There’s a famine in Israel- No food Egyptians take Sarah War of 4 kings against 5 - Avraham saves Lot בית בין הבתרים- Avraham is told Jews will go to Egypt as slaves- he was just told to go to israel and there was a famine so he was faced with options of if he should stay in israel or go to egypt Avraham’s Brit Milah- Age of 75 Gerar takes Sarah Sending away Hagar and Yishmal Akkeidat Yitzchak- Yitzchak as an offering Reasons for these tests: To train/Improve Avraham To show off Avraham to the world Questions Why so many tests? Why finish with test 10? Sadie’s answer said in class: Developing a sense of trust, Emunah in Avraham What do you think was the most difficult test Avraham had & why? A: Akeidat Yitzchak because i’m sure it was hard for Avraham to give up his own child which shows the amount of trust he has in Hashem