Chabad Tokyo Japan

In this week’s Parsha Vayeira, we learn about the inhabitants of Sodom and its neighbors who were destroyed because they became very wicked. The Torah states that they were “wicked and sinful against G-d, very much”. However, the wickedness of Sodom and its neighbors was a misguided overreaction to Noah’s flood. The flood generation was wiped out mainly because they practiced and allowed themselves robbery – taking one person’s property by force. The residents of Sodom, who were aware of this, declared absolute private property rights, meaning outlawing charity and hospitality. They saw charity and hospitality as unjust use of another person’s property meaning they took the sin of the flood generation to the extreme to the exact opposite. Total non-use of another person’s property. From this arose their wickedness against charity, kindness, and hospitality.

In their zeal, the people of Sodom did not realize that this reverse extremism was just as destructive as robbery. Therefore, since the world cannot fulfill its purpose of being G-d’s true home without acts of kindness, they acted against the Divine intention. Therefore it was necessary to eliminate Sodom and its neighbors, just like the generation of the flood. Nevertheless, since their intentions, however, were motivated by a desire to do the right thing, the Torah says that these cities will be restored in the Messianic era. It means that when Moshiach is revealed very soon, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will also return to being settled!

The connection between Sodom and Gomorrah and the 7 laws of Noah is that these laws are universal moral principles that apply to all human beings. One of these laws is establishing courts and ensuring justice in our world. With every small act of justice, we restore harmony to the world, therefore we must keep the laws of the 7 commandments of the sons of Noah because they maintain the existence of society. On the other hand, a city that acts to the extreme against the laws of 7 Noah’s sons (as seen in the city of Gaza) may find itself in an outcome similar to that of Sodom and Gomorrah.

*This is from a series of articles by Rabbi Bernstein Moshe.

Rockets have been fired into Israel’s territory many times, but thankfully, few people have been injured. Israel’s enemies, on the other hand, suffered heavy losses as a result of these rockets. These are undoubtedly miracles that demonstrate the extent of heavenly watchfulness over Israel’s land. The Torah (Deuteronomy 11:25) claims that G-d miraculously protects the land of Israel.

Natural miracles are superior to supernatural miracles because they have a higher spiritual foundation and originate from the Creator’s power, which unites nature and miracles, two seemingly incompatible things. The first commandment of Bnei Noah is the recognition that there is a single creator of the world who is taking care of every one of us and fulfilling his promises as given in the Torah.

The recognition of the divine supervision that surrounds us is part of the commandments given to Noahides and can strengthen our faith in the fulfillment of the divine promises to those who keep the seven commandments. The land of Israel is the safest place on earth as it is permanently watched by divine providence. Therefore it is only a matter of time before we see the hand of G-d and a huge winning of the war between the chosen people and the most evil forces on earth.

Our sages say that when you see wars on a global scale this is a sign that Moshiach is about to reveal. It is brought (Psalms 2:1): “Why have nations gathered and why do kingdoms think vain things? Kings of a land stand up, and take counsel together against the Lord and against His Moshiach?” All these are clear signs that we are on the verge of final redemption where the evil of the world will be eliminated and the final battle against Amalek, the greatest irrational anti-Semite throughout the generations will come to an end by his total destruction.

*This is from a series of articles by Rabbi Bernstein Moshe.