Before our Parsha Puppets take to the stage, we should catch up on the Parsha itself. Abraham is visited by 3 men. Eager to welcome the strangers, Abraham offers them food and water.
Here is an artistic interpretation of this sedra scene:

When asked what we can learn from Abraham, the students gave the following answers:


" be hospitable"
"welcome guests"
"greet new people in your house,school or synagogue"
"be nicer"


One of the men tells Abraham that his wife Sarah will have a son in the coming year. As Abraham and Sarah are both advanced in years, this promise is rather hard to believe. Sarah, overhearing the conversation laughs at the thought of a 90 something woman becoming a brand new mom (all of us found this amazing - but if it's in the Torah....! ).

Sarah and Abraham do have a child who becomes the reason for their existence and the focus of their joy. The baby is named Isaac and is soon presented to the world. Again Abraham is faced with a life altering test. G-d commands Abraham to take Isaac "his favored one" and offer him as a sacrifice to G-d. Abraham obeys, but is stopped by angel of G-d who declares "I know you fear G-d since you have not withheld your son, your favored son from Me."

When discussing this very important part of Va-yera, the students asked many questions and offered meaningful insights:


"I don't G-d was going to let Abraham hurt his son, he just wanted to test his faith"


"Why didn't Abraham argue with Him, just as he did when G-d was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah? - I wouldn't have listened to that command!"


"I think G-d was showing Abraham it was wrong to kill people"


"Where was Sarah in all this? Why didn't she do anything?"



What knowledgeable observations! These questions have been asked and answered since antiquity. My students are all budding Torah scholars!


Stay tuned for the show!