Temple Kol Ami
in cooperation with the Jewish Community Center
invites the Jewish Singles Community to attend

"Wines Around the World II

a wine tasting event presented by

Evil Ways Produce
Divine Destruction

RABBI RICHARD C. HERTZ SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

featuring
a hearty appetizer buffet by

jutiette's Cuisine

Tickets purchased in advance: $24.50
At the Door: $27.50
(Reservations limited to 300)

Saturday evening

December 5, 1992
8:00 p.m.

Temple Kol Ami
5085 Walnut lake Road
West Bloomfield

Please R.S.V.P. by November 30, 1992, by mailing your check
mode payable to Temple Kol Ami to
Temple Kol Ami/Wine Tasting Event
5085 Walnut lake Rood
West Bloomfield, Ml 48323

For further Information, please call
Debbie WIllens at 851-5840 or Brenda Brook at 358-1878
Valet Parking Available
Proceeds to benefit Temple Kol Ami
and MAZON: A Jewish Response To Hunger

Find Out What Over 140 Families
Have Found Out In The Last 6 Months

M

entioning Sodom
and Gomorrah in-
stantly summons
up the famous story
in Genesis about divine
destruction. Scripture tells
the story briefly and
dramatically. Chapter 18.
11-15 tells of the appearance
of angelic visitors to
Abraham. There was nothing
super-human about their ap-
pearance. Abraham perceives
them to be human. Abraham
runs to them to offer
hospitality. He brings water
to bathe their feet; he prom-
ises to fetch "a morsel of
bread" but instead, prepares
a lavish feast. "Where is your
wife Sarah?" And Abraham
replies, "There in the tent."
Then one says, "I will return
to you next year and your wife
Sarah will have a son!"
Then Abraham had an im-
portant discussion with God.
Abraham was privy to one of
God's historic decisions. He is
granted this singular privi-
lege because he symbolized
the future Jewish nation. The
sins of Sodom were well
known to Abraham, along
with their cynical insensitivi-
ty to the sufferings of others.
Knowing that they were to be
destroyed, Abraham now
stands before God to plead for
the lives of the depraved
pagans. He identifies with
them. His universality finds
expression because God is
universal and omnipotent.
Abraham understands the
principle of passion for
righteousness. "Shall not the
judge of all the earth deal
justly?" he protests. Not only
the innocent, but the entire

Dr. Hertz is rabbi emeritus at

Temple Beth El.

city, he says, should be spared
for the sake of the innocent
minority.
Events now turn to a horri-
fying but dramatic climax.
First, a demonstration of the
evil ways of the people of
Sodom and their ir-
redeemable wickedness and
immorality. Next, the
deliverance of Lot. Then,
finally, the devastation of the
region turning everything to
salt.

Shabbat Vayera:
Genesis
18:1-22:24
II Kings 4:1-37.

Whether an earthquake
descended upon the region of
Sodom, we don't know.
Historically, a catastrophic
conflagration took place. The
utter ruination of the cities
and of the plains may have
taken place and been the
basis of this biblical story.
Lot's wife suffered the same
fate as the other inhabitants.
She was told not to look back,
but she did, out of curiosity, to
see what happened behind
her. She was turned into a
pillar of salt.
Salt had a symbolic func-
tion in the ancient Near East.
When a site was conquered, it
was strewn with salt as a
mark of eternal desolation
and punishment for disloyal-
ty or a breach of a treaty.
Nothing more was heard
from Lot. After the destruc-
tion of Sodom and Gomorrah,
Abraham resumed his ex-
periences in the continuing
saga of the Jewish people. ❑

Happy Thanksgiving!

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