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A THOUGHT ABOUT PARSHAT VAYERA 5786

Lessons from Sodom and Gomorrah

The Question from Genesis 18:17

In Genesis 18:17, we read:

17 And the L-RD said: ‘Shall I hide from Abraham that which I am doing;יז  וַד’, אָמָר:  הַמְכַסֶּה אֲנִי מֵאַבְרָהָם, אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי עֹשֶׂה.


This marks the beginning of the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. G-d announces to Abraham what will happen: the destruction of the cities. Why does God reveal this specifically to Abraham?

Classical Explanations

We can see two main lines of reasoning:

  1. Ownership of the land
  2. Education in justice

In this blog, we will focus on the second point.

The Judgment on Sodom

The punishment for Sodom and Gomorrah was exceptionally severe. The prophet Ezekiel 16:49 explains why:

49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom: pride, fullness of bread, and careless ease was in her and in her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.מט  הִנֵּה-זֶה הָיָה, עֲוֺן סְדֹם אֲחוֹתֵךְ:  גָּאוֹן שִׂבְעַת-לֶחֶם וְשַׁלְוַת הַשְׁקֵט, הָיָה לָהּ וְלִבְנוֹתֶיהָ, וְיַד-עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן, לֹא הֶחֱזִיקָה.

The root of Sodom’s downfall was not merely moral corruption, but a systematic rejection of kindness. Their society valued wealth, power, and independence — and viewed helping the poor as a crime. In their worldview, every person was to stand on their own; compassion was considered weakness.

The Talmud (Sanhedrin 109b) illustrates this with chilling examples of how Sodom institutionalized cruelty. One striking story tells of a young girl who secretly gave bread to a starving beggar. When her act of mercy was discovered, the townspeople condemned her to death — they smeared her with honey and placed her under the sun, where she was stung to death by bees.

This was not because she gave too little, or because the beggar was “undeserving,” but precisely because she gave at all. In Sodom’s twisted legal system, charity itself was illegal. The city’s judges believed that aiding the needy disrupted social order — the strong must remain strong, the weak must perish. By criminalizing compassion, they turned justice upside down.

The Sages use this story to show that Sodom’s destruction was not arbitrary. It was the moral consequence of a society that denied the most basic human duty: to care for one another. When generosity becomes a crime, the society itself becomes unsustainable.

The Seven Noahide Laws

Various Jewish Sages explain that all descendants of Noah are commanded to observe the Seven Laws of Noah. The Rambam (Hilchot Melachim 9:14) codifies these laws as:

  1. Establishing courts of justice (dinim)
  2. Prohibition of blasphemy
  3. Prohibition of idolatry
  4. Prohibition of sexual immorality
  5. Prohibition of murder
  6. Prohibition of theft
  7. Prohibition of eating flesh taken from a living animal

The question arises: does giving tzedakah fall under these seven laws?

Different Opinions

The Perspective of the Lubavitcher Rebbe

The Lubavitcher Rebbe unites these opinions: he explains that tzedakah is a direct commandment for Jews, aiming to elevate the world and make it a dwelling place for G-d. For Noahides, giving tzedakah falls under the broader command to establish a just society (yishuv olam). When Noahides give tzedakah and uphold justice, they help stabilize the world and create an environment in which Jews can further spiritually refine and perfect creation. In this way, Noahides prepare the world for its ultimate perfection and the coming of Moshiach, with their actions contributing both practically and spiritually to building a just society (Likutei Sichot, Vol. II, pp. 409-411; Sterne, Torah Like Fire and Water).

How Much Should a Noahide Give?

Tzedakah and Tithing

Tithing (ma’aser) is a Jewish agricultural obligation linked to the Temple. Noahides are not commanded to give tithes, but allocating 10% of income to charity or supporting Torah study is considered praiseworthy.

Conclusion

The destruction of Sodom teaches that a society refusing to support the poor and needy loses its legitimacy. For Noahides, giving tzedakah:

By giving tzedakah, Noahides contribute to a world in which G-d desires to dwell and prepare the world for refinement by Jews. As the Rebbe said in 1991: “Moshiach is ready to come; we only need to do something extra in the realm of goodness and kindness.”

By Angelique Sijbolts
With thanks to Rabbi Tani Burton for the feedback

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