The fourth weekly Torah part in the yearly Jewish cycle of Torah reading is called Vayera (וַיֵּרָא), which is also the first word of the parasha, which is Hebrew for “and He appeared.” Genesis 18:1-22:24 are comprised of it. The parasha recounts the tales of Abraham’s three visitors, Lot’s two visitors, Lot’s bargaining with the Sodomites, Lot’s flight, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, how Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father, how Abraham once more pretended that his wife Sarah was his sister, the birth of Isaac, Hagar’s expulsion, well-related disagreements, and Isaac’s binding (the Akedah).
This parasha is the weekly Torah chapter with the most words (but not the most letters or verses) in the Book of Genesis, and it has the second-highest word count in the entire Torah after Parashat Naso. A Torah Scroll contains 147 verses, 252 lines, 2,085 Hebrew words, and 7,862 Hebrew characters (Sefer Torah). There are more verses in Parashiyot Noach and Vayishlach than in Parashat Miketz (which has the most letters in the Book of Genesis).
On the fourth Sabbath following Simchat Torah, in October or November, we read it. As part of the Rosh Hashana Torah readings, we also recite portions of the parasha. The Torah readings for the first and second days of Rosh Hashana are taken from Genesis 21 and 22, respectively.
One Response