Have you heard this one before? It’s about understanding an important aspect of approaching life by using a metaphor involving your car. Consider your windshield versus your rear-view mirror. The size difference is an indicator, a reminder of what is more important. The mirror, which is relatively small, is used to look back, to see where you were, a snapshot of the past. On the other hand, the windshield window is large, expansive, providing a wide expansive view into what’s coming up, the road in front of you.

In this week’s parsha (Torah portion) called Vayeira, we are witness to many famous events. Abraham and Sarah welcome three wayfarers into their tent, displaying genuine hospitality. They turn out to be angels with a message that Sarah will have a child. Indeed, Isaac was born. Also, in this Shabbat’s reading we find the banishment of Abraham’s concubine and his first son, Hagar and Ishmael, and the famous story of the binding of Isaac and his near death as a human sacrifice at the hands of his father. And in the middle of all this we learn of the utter devastation of Sodom and Gomorrah. We know the basic outline of that narrative well.

Abraham and his entourage, which includes his wife, Lot and his wife and others, have taken up temporary residence in Sodom. However, due to the continuing and comprehensive sinful behavior of the inhabitants of those twin evil cities, God decides that Sodom and Gomorrah will be destroyed. So, Heaven’s voice informs Abraham that his clan must leave the area immediately. The forewarning comes with a strange condition. “H’malayt al nafeshacah, al tabit acharechah”, “Flee for your lives, but do not turn around.” (Gen. 19:17) As everyone is evacuating, only Lot’s wife turns around to look, and she is punished by being turned into a pillar of salt. Our sages wanted to understand why did the Lord prohibit looking back and why was the punishment so severe?

The message and lesson is simple, yet powerful. Sodom and Gomorrah represented a wide range of ingrained wrongful behavior from immorality to criminal acts to injustices of every kind. Removing oneself from that environment meant moving forward and finally leaving that lifestyle behind for good. Therefore, when Sarah and Abraham and their people are told not to turn around God is saying to all of us don’t even think about going back to your bad habits, addictions, false priorities and hurtful ways. Lot’s wife, by turning around revealed that she missed what she left behind in Sodom and Gomorrah–she continued to long for the debauchery and chaos, instead of embracing an orderly and righteous future under the guidance of Abraham and Sarah.

As we move further away from the promises we made to ourselves over the High Holidays, what a great time to be inspired by this teaching in our holy text. We should not stare too much into the rear-view mirror, but look ahead through the clear bright windshield.

L’shalom,

Rabbi Jack