9) Religious People Need Not Be so Insular

In Genesis we find that G-d wanted to destroy the evil city of Sodom.

Avraham, in an attempt to try stop the destruction, enters into a plea bargain with G-d and asks; “What if there should be fifty righteous people in the midst of the city, would You still stamp it out?”[1]

The Kotzker gives a fascinating interpretation to the expression ‘righteous people in the midst of the city’.

He says; “The righteous person must be in the midst of the city, mingling together with ordinary people, and not cloistered away in his own section.”[2]

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[1] Ber. 18, 24 - Actually there were five cities, Sodom being the only one mentioned because of its prominence. The number fifty would ensure a minyan of ten in each city (Rashi).

[2] Amud HaEmet p. 19 par. 3