Ruth and Orpah, Abraham and Lot: The Power of Choices

Why are Chazal extremely critical of Orpa? Looking back at Lot’s separation from Avraham, we see that catastrophe followed Lot’s decision to live in cruel Sedom. Orpa, his descendant, returns to a corrupt and immoral society. Ruth chooses to return to Avraham’s path from which Lot broke away, and she becomes the vehicle to bring the Israelites back to the way of Avraham.