In this week's parsha we read about the destruction of the wicked people of Sodom. Our Sages compare Avraham to Noah in the way in which they reacted to the news of  the pending destruction of Sodom (in Avraham's case) and the destruction of the world through the flood (in Noah's case). In Noah's case he built the Ark and saved his family but he did very little to save the rest of mankind. In contrast Avraham has a lengthy discourse with Hashem in hopes of saving the people of Sodom. The people of Sodom were very wicked but nevertheless Avraham still tried to save these people in the merit of a few righteous individuals.

We find ourselves in a very divisive moment in history, probably the most divisive that any of us have ever seen. There are certainly wicked people with bad intentions on both sides of the aisle but for the most part there is a major difference in opinions and worldviews. We have to keep in mind that even among these differences there is an underlying power that unifies all of Am Yisroel, the divergence of opinion can only extend so far. We can learn from the actions of Avraham that even though our differences may exists that doesn't mean we stop caring about the other side.

Shabbat Shalom,

Heath