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In Parshat Vayera, Abraham’s nephew Lot is rescued by angels from the sinful city of Sodom, and after he and most of his family escape, the city is destroyed by heavenly fire. These seem to be the main plot points of the narrative. And yet, upon closer inspection, there actually seems to be a larger story being told, one that might make us question what we know about the real sin of Sodom. Woven into the account of the destruction of Sodom are a host of subtle references to a different story in the Bible – to, of all things, the Garden of Eden.
What do these two stories have to do with each other? Is there some common theme or lesson that runs through them both? In this video, Rabbi Fohrman explores the links between the stories, and suggests that Sodom might not have been the lawless place we usually imagine. Instead, it had a different problem – and understanding it holds the secret to how one can truly follow the path of God in building an ideal society.