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Weekly Torah portion · Genesis

Vayera וירא

Genesis 18:1-22:24

Vayera (“He Appeared”) opens as guests inform Abraham that Sarah will give birth. Despite Abraham’s attempts to convince God otherwise, God destroys the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Sarah gives birth to Isaac, and Abraham sends away Hagar and Ishmael. At God’s command, Abraham prepares to sacrifice Isaac, but an angel of God tells Abraham to offer a ram instead.

Summary: Sefaria

How it begins

וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְהוָה בְּאֵלֹנֵי מַמְרֵא וְהוּא יֹשֵׁב פֶּתַח־הָאֹהֶל כְּחֹם הַיּוֹם׃

18:1 And the LORD appeared unto him by the terebinths of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;

וַיִּשָּׂא עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה שְׁלֹשָׁה אֲנָשִׁים נִצָּבִים עָלָיו וַיַּרְא וַיָּרָץ לִקְרָאתָם מִפֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ אָרְצָה׃

18:2 and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood over against him; and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed down to the earth,

וַיֹּאמַר אֲדֹנָי אִם־נָא מָצָאתִי חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ אַל־נָא תַעֲבֹר מֵעַל עַבְדֶּךָ׃

18:3 and said: ‘My lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant.

Genesis 18:1–3 · Hebrew: Tanach with Nikkud · English: JPS 1917 · public domain, via Sefaria

Seven daily readings

The portion is traditionally split into seven parts (aliyot), one for each day of the week.

When it’s read

Dates: Hebcal. Some years two portions are read together.

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