Vayera 5785: Justice and Mercy

The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies Podcast Network

Why might kindness be perceived as weakness, and what does Avraham’s response teach us? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Leon Morris examine Avraham’s moral decisions in Parshat Vayera, focusing on the qualities that led to the downfall of Sodom and Gomorrah. They discuss the values of compassion, justice, and community, exploring how these themes challenge us to address social and ethical issues today. Through classical sources, they unpack Avraham’s example of advocating for others, even amid corruption and cruelty, as a model for our own engagement with society’s challenges. Featuring: Rabbi Leon Morris – PresiFFdent of Pardes Zvi Hirschfield – Pardes Faculty and Host of Pardes from Jerusalem