Vayeira

Tactics for Successful Prayer

The city of Sodom was notorious for its corruption and depravity. Its inhabitants had a warped sense of justice and mercilessly persecuted strangers. So great was their evil that G-d decided to destroy the city of Sodom along with its four satellite cities; Amora, Admah, Tzevoyim and Tzoar.

When Avraham was informed of G-d's plan he became determined to prevent its implementation. Avraham approaches G-d to placate His anger. He prays to arouse G-d's mercy. Avraham was so determined, that he was ready to fight with G-d and demand that the city be spared.

Avraham appeals How can the Judge of all the earth not act justly by killing the righteous among with the wicked. 'Perhaps', said Avraham, 'There may be 50 Tzaddikim (righteous people) in the city, would You still destroy it?'

G-d assured Avraham that if there were 50 Tzaddikim the city would be spared.
Not backing down Avraham continued, 'What if there are only 45? How about 40? 30? 20? 10?'

Each time G-d agreed to spare the city if there were as many righteous individuals as Avraham had specified.

The commentaries shed light on this bizarre exchange. Avraham presumed that the magic number to prevent the destruction was 10. In Jewish thought, the number 10 represents a community and is therefore the quorum required for communal prayer – a minyan. The influence of 50 Tzaddikim, a community of upright citizens in each of the 5 cities may be enough merit to protect them.

But maybe 1 person is missing from each minyan, so how about 45? Perhaps at least 4 of the cities could be saved with 40 righteous individuals. So it went until Avraham's final offer of 10. When G-d assured Avraham that there were not even 10 Tzaddikim in one of the cities, Avraham rests his case and the angels of destruction are given license to do their work.

In contrast… When fleeing from the pending destruction, Lot (Avraham's nephew who had taken up residence in Sodom) was told to run to the hills so that he and his family not perish. Lot, unable to make it all the way, pleads that the city of Tzoar be spared so that he may take refuge there. He reasons that the city is small and its sins are relatively fewer than those of its neighbours. Surprisingly, G-d accedes to Lot's request.

Hang on a minute! Avraham was the true, devoted servant of G-d. Yet despite his lengthy appeal he was unable to spare even a single city. Along comes Lot, who has been portrayed throughout the book of Breishis as a man of questionable faith and suspect behaviour, and he succeeds where Avraham had failed!

The Zohar, the central text of the Kabbalah, is highly critical of Avraham's conduct in this episode. Avraham made his request for clemency dependant upon the presence of Tzaddikim whose merits and calls for repentance might deserve protection of their cities. Why did Avraham stop his bargaining at 10? Why not argue that the city be spared even without the merits of the righteous!? Lot on the other hand requested simply that the city be spared, irrespective of the nature of its inhabitants.

Furthermore, Lot was a resident of Sodom and his life too was in danger. His request to save the city was personal and heartfelt. Avraham on the other hand was safe in Chevron with his family, his tents and his cattle. Did the destruction of city miles away really bother him? True he made an effort to intercede, but it did not affect him personally and so he failed to go all the way.

Of all people, it is from Lot that we learn the tactics for successful prayer. Whatever we lack in our lives, be it; health, success, happiness, illumination or to find our soul-mate, there is no one better to pray for our needs than ourselves. And no matter how significant our request or how much we have prayed in the past, we should never give up hope of answers. Sincerity and persistence are the keys to unlock the gates of Heaven.

 

~ Rabbi Yoni Johnson

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