Parashat Vayera is filled with foundational events.
Let’s take a look at the teachings of our Sages that reveals a deep and fundamental lesson regarding the attribute of gratitude (Hakarat HaTov)—as well as a strong warning against ingratitude.
Following the overturning of Sodom and Gomorrah, the Torah recounts the rescue of Lot and the birth of his sons (At the same time his great sons) Ammon and Moab. Our Sages in the Midrash ask: By what merit was Lot saved? The answer is—by the merit of Abraham our Father, who took Lot with him and rescued him from harm.
Yet what did Lot’s descendants—Ammon and Moab—do some generations later? When the Nation of Israel, the descendants of Abraham, left Egypt and needed assistance in the wilderness, Ammon and Moab not only failed to greet them with bread and water, but actually hired Balaam to curse them.
For this severe ingratitude, the Torah decrees an unprecedented punishment:
“An Ammonite or a Moabite shall not enter into the assembly of the LORD… because they did not meet you with bread and water on the way when you came forth out of Egypt.”
Our Sages emphasize: The Torah does not forgive ingratitude. One who forgets past kindness and repays good with evil forfeits their privilege of joining the congregation of Israel.
In contrast, Abraham’s character in the weekly portion embodies the exact opposite: a favorable eye (Ayin Tovah), genuine gratitude, and concern for others. Abraham sits at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day, immediately after his circumcision, actively searching for guests to shower with kindness. Abraham understands that the world is built on lovingkindness and recognizing the good. He does not view the world with a critical or dismissive eye, but rather with a constant search for opportunities to do good and show appreciation.
The Torah teaches us an eternal lesson: Gratitude is not merely a nice gesture; it is a foundational moral pillar. Someone who is incapable of seeing and appreciating the good done on their behalf, harms first and foremost, their own internal moral integrity.
The results of the recent Israelis elections emphasized once again that the Israeli public values leadership, action, and national responsibility. The Likud party, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, won the largest number of votes and led by a significant margin as the largest faction in the Knesset.
Despite this clear decision by the electorate, we frequently witness a tense and poisoned public and media discourse swept up in unrestrained attacks and criticism.
As a society, it is our duty to pause and look honestly at the facts. Leadership is measured by results and resilience over time, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has led the State of Israel to monumental achievements:
- In Security and National Resilience: Standing firm and resolute against complex existential threats and leading security campaigns with sound judgment.
- In Diplomacy and International Relations: Solidifying Israel’s international standing, forging historic peace agreements, and deepening global alliances.
- In the Economy and Development: Transforming the State of Israel into a thriving technological, scientific, and economic powerhouse.
Automated attacks that completely ignore this record of accomplishment are not merely political blindness—they are a direct offense against the fundamental Jewish value of gratitude.
Elections tend to arouse conflict, but the most important lesson we must take from Parashat Vayeira and the core of Jewish tradition is the ability to rise above division and malice.
Just as the Torah educates us to see the good, express thanks, and avoid ingratitude, so too must we conduct ourselves in Israel’s public arena: expressing deep appreciation to those who dedicate their lives to the security, prosperity, and future of the State of Israel, and placing intellectual honesty and gratitude at the very heart of our path.
Shabbat Shalom U’Mevorach!
Rabbi Refael Cohen