Vayera 5785: Justice and Mercy

Why might kindness be perceived as weakness, and what does Avraham’s response teach us?

In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Leon Morris examine Avraham’s moral decisions in Parshat Vayera, focusing on the qualities that led to the downfall of Sodom and Gomorrah. They discuss the values of compassion, justice, and community, exploring how these themes challenge us to address social and ethical issues today. Through classical sources, they unpack Avraham’s example of advocating for others, even amid corruption and cruelty, as a model for our own engagement with society’s challenges.

Featuring:
Rabbi Leon Morris – PresiFFdent of Pardes
Zvi Hirschfield – Pardes Faculty and Host of Pardes from Jerusalem

Leon Morris

Rabbi Leon Morris is President of Pardes and the first Pardes alumnus to lead the institution, having studied in both the Year (‘94-’95) and Summer (‘93, ‘94) Programs. Ordained by Hebrew Union College in 1997, Leon previously served as rabbi of Temple Adas Israel in Sag Harbor, founding director of the Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center in Manhattan, and Vice President for Israel Programs at the Shalom Hartman Institute.

Leon has taught at Orthodox, Conservative and Reform institutions and has worked extensively with the Jewish community of India since serving there as a Jewish Service Corps volunteer in 1990. A regular contributor to the Jewish, Israeli and American press, he is also an editor of the Reform High Holy Day machzor Mishkan HaNefesh.

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