Vayera 5784: An Imminent and Transcendent Connection

The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies Podcast Network

Do we allow our pursuit of spirituality to get in the way of true divine connection? In this week's episode of Pardes from Jerusalem, Yiscah Smith and Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield discuss Parshat Vayera through the lens of human and divine connection. When the three strangers arrive at Avraham's tent, we find Avram in the midst of a deep spiritual moment, yet he immediately shifting to greet the new arrivals. Did Avraham dismiss God and that spiritual moment, or did he bring God with him? If the forefathers and foremothers are meant to be role models, what can learn from Avraham leaving that spiritual moment for the sake of other humans? At the end of the episode, Yiscah and Zvi also discuss the concept of light vs. darkness, an important topic in light of the current war in Israel. Credits: Yiscah Smith and Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield - Pardes Faculty