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By: Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin
“He was named Noach, saying this one will ease our work, and bring us rest from the toil of our hands….” (Bereishis 5:29)
Parents have dreams and aspirations for their children. Some hope their children will become Torah scholars, sharing wisdom with many. Others dream their children will become physicians, and bring healing to the ill and suffering. And, yet others wish to see their children bring justice to the world.
Noach’s parents prayed that their son be the one to bring an end to the backbreaking labor needed to work the field, allowing them and others to experience peace of mind, body and soul.
Chazal teach that there is a name-soul connection. For the name is the essence of the soul. In fact, the middle two letters of the Hebrew word neshamah are shin and mem, spelling shem – name. When parents name a child, they are gifted nevuah–prophecy. The meaning of a name, or after whom a child is named, is reflected in the child’s potential.
True to his name, Noach, meaning rest and comfort, made life easier for the people of his generation. Rashi teaches that Noach was the world’s first inventor, creating basic farming tools. Until then, all fieldwork was painstakingly done by hand. From planting seeds, to pulling weeds, to harvesting a field, farming was a slow and difficult process.
Noach’s inventions allowed his generation more free time – but free time to do what? To do acts of kindness with others? To grow spiritually and connect to HaShem?
None of the above.
“Vatimoleh ha’aretz chomos… and the land had become filled with theft and fraud. And HaShem saw the earth, and it was corrupt… The end of all living being is before Me.” (Bereishis 6:11-13)
In the ten generations from Adam to Noach, the people descended to the lowest of the low. The very moral fiber of society was destroyed. There was a total lack of respect. A disregard for another’s possessions. Dishonesty, injustice and immorality became the new norm.
Furthermore, there was a lack of achdus, unity. Family members did not speak with one another, and discord was rampant amongst man and his fellow.
How painful it is for parents to see their children not getting along with each other. We can’t even begin to imagine HaShem’s pain, upon seeing His children quarreling amongst themselves.
It was a world of chaos and anarchy. It was time to rebuild a new world. A world based on honesty, truthfulness, justice, respect and chesed.
It is with this backdrop that the parshah opens.
“Eileh toldos Noach, These are the generations of Noach. Noach ish tzaddik, Noach was a righteous man, tamim hoyoh b’dorosav, pure and wholehearted in his generation, es haElokim hishalech Noach, Noach walked with HaShem.”
(Bereishis 6:9)
The generations of Noach. One would think the passage would recall Noach’s three sons, his descendants and their families. Yet, it is Noach’s good deeds that are mentioned. Rashi expounds, “zecher tzaddik livrachah, the memory of a tzaddik, a righteous person should be for a blessing”. (Mishlei 10:7). Furthermore, by attributing these qualities to Noach, the Torah is teaching us that “the primary offspring of tzaddikim are their good deeds” (Midrash Tanchumah).
This teaches us that a person’s actions are his legacy.
We must ask ourselves: “How will I be remembered? What recollections will my family, friends and community have? What enduring goodness did I contribute to the world?”
Noach was a tzaddik. He stood up to the world around him. He chose to be different, and walked with HaShem. Noach stood alone and found the inner strength to hold onto his beliefs and morals. He refused to be influenced by the world around him. He had the fortitude to say “I will not be part of this business deal. I will not participate in that conversation, and no thanks – that entertainment and life-style is not for me.”
Noach was his own person, and defied the world around him. “Everyone’s doing it” was not part of his jargon. At times, it must have been a lonely battle. “Noach walked with HaShem.” But he was never alone, for HaShem was his “walking partner”.
Standing up for one’s beliefs and principles is what makes an ordinary man “extra”-ordinary. What earns him the title of tzaddik.
HaShem told Noach of the impending mabul, flood that would bring destruction upon the world, and directed Noach to build a teivah, an ark.
Noach hammered away, building an ark of epic proportions. A three-floored structure, the top level reserved for family, the second for a menagerie of animals, from large elephants and tall giraffes, to fierce lions and even the tiniest of insects, with the lower level for refuse.
While it rained for forty days, it took a full year for the waters to subside, and for Noach to be able to exit the teivah to dry land. One year of being the world’s “busiest zookeeper”, on call morning through night, never taking a break. Life in the ark was “chesed boot-camp”.
Noach and his family exited the ark changed people. They left the teivah with a new understanding of selfless giving.
“My rainbow that I set on the clouds, should be a sign, a covenant between Me and all that are upon the earth.” (Bereishis 9:13)
After the deluge, a rainbow.
Why a rainbow?
When we look at a rainbow, we see a beautiful spectrum of colors. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet. Only HaShem, with His mastery, could create something so wondrous.
The generation of the mabul was one that lived for themselves – “What’s in it for me”, was their only concern. It was a generation that didn’t give of their time, lend a helping hand or grant a listening ear. It was a time of total apathy.
The sefer Otzar Chaim, written by Rabbi Chaim Yaakov Zuckerman (1895-1971) explains that the rainbow symbolizes unity. Different colors, yet blending together as one. To show achrayus, responsibility towards one another. Within the word achrayus is acher, someone else. That’s what it’s all about. To show responsibility to others.
This is the takeaway. All HaShem wants is our achdus, our unity. To display tolerance and respect. To make our world one of peace and harmony.
When we see a rainbow, let it be a reminder that although we may be different from one another, we are one people, an Am Echad.
Shabbat Shalom!
Chaya Sora
Chaya Sora can be reached at [email protected]
This article was written L’zecher Nishmas / In Memory Of HaRav Meshulem ben HaRav Osher Anshil HaLevi, zt”l and Rebbetzin Esther bas HaRav Avraham HaLevi, zt”l
