Sodom has turned over, its moral mission transformed into a symbol, and synonymously a corrupted establishment already in the times of the prophets: "Hear to the words of G-d officials of Sodom" rebukes Yeshaaya the Prophet to the government officials-"Listen to the words of G-d the nation of Amora" (Yeshaaya 1; 10). The punishment of Sodom is used as a warning sign for mankind till today. A sign in which warns us that the Providence does not forgive when human society harms the foundations of their existence itself.
 

I think that anyone who will browse in the code of laws of Sodom will agree that Sodom received its fate and its proportionate punishment justly. Those who enact laws and corrupt them, lose the privilege of their existence.              
 

However if Sodom serves as a guarantee for destruction, how is it possible that we find the social systems which are infected with Sodom's distorted morality of corruption not winding down? Wasn't the punishment of Sodom severe? And hasn't it already been stated: "For all His ways are judgment"?
 

Why is the world not turning over? Why are the skies not falling? We ask this whenever we encounter atrocious acts of the collective and the individual. Where is the justice, asks a person, when the media is flooding the mind with information "that is unthinkable". How is the Providence silent and not bringing the world in to an end? Is there injustice?  

According to Rabbi Eliyahu Lopian Ztz"l, the prayer of Abraham and the punishment of Sodom combined serve as an example for all their components. Just like the punishment of Sodom warns society from self destruction, so too-the prayer of Abraham serves as mute evidence towards saving the same society.  

Let's try to picture to ourselves that there were ten righteous people in Sodom, would Sodom turn over? Definitely not! "I will not destroy for the sake of the ten", G-d states. The destruction of Sodom teaches us two things. One- it did not contain even ten righteous people. Two- if there were ten righteous people Sodom would remain existent despite its corruption and terrible distortions.

If Sodom would not turn over, would we know to whom that is due? Apparently not. The world would continue to run as usual. No one would think that his city would be in danger of turning over. The destruction of Sodom teaches generations that if we see countries which enact laws of the Sodom sort, and despite that have not been destroyed, the reason to that is because of the righteous people that are found there.

Following the miraculous rescue, will the citizens of Sodom respect the righteous people that dwell amongst them? Will they be grateful for it? Of course not. Why? Two reasons. One- they are not aware to the fact that they are living because of the righteous. Two- even if it will be known, gratitude completely opposes the original laws of Sodom, and contradicts their ethics.

Will Sodom turn over again? I do not know. But if not- this is not to prove that our society is moral, rather that perhaps it has righteous people who protect it.

Who are those righteous? You decide!!!

Translated By: Tzipora Niazov