PARASHAT Noach

Torah Gems - November 1st 2008 / 3 Cheshvan

This week's Torah Gems were prepared by

Adam Solomon

PARASHAT Noach

There is a Simpson's episode in which Bart is playing with a pop up book of Bible stories for children. He's reached the story of the flood and as he pulls the tab of the book causing a wave of water to hit the ark, Bart yells out "...Oh, Noah, Noah! Save us! Save us!" and in Noah's voice Bart laughs and says "NO!"

(http://www.snpp.com/episodes/8F05.html).

As humorous as this vignette is, I think that it aptly illustrates traditional Jewish ambivalence about Noach. At the close of last week's parasha, HaShem was ready to destroy humanity as well as all of the animals due to man's dedication to evil except that Noach "found favor in G-d's eye".

Rashi, the prolific French Medievel commentator, notes that our sages disagreed as to Noach's merit. Some felt that it was only in comparison to his debased generation that Noach was of note. Others thought that had he lived in a more worthy era that Noach would have been even more righteous. Rashi also draws a distinction between Noach described as walking with G-d, whereas Avraham Avinu walked before G-d.

Perhaps the most distinctive difference between Avraham and Noach is the latter's lack of concern for the community. There isn't the slightest hint in the text of Noach trying to help anyone else. Rashi does note that in Midrash Hane'elam, Zohar Chadash 28a, the text says that rain came before the flood, the rain being one last opportunity for teshuva for humanity. I would say that this midrash is another expression of our tradition's discomfort with Noach's lack of effort at helping anyone outside of his own family.

If Noach represents complete lack of concern for the community - or at least turning one's back to community and isolating oneself from it, the parasha also presents the reduction to absurdity in the other direction: the Towel of Babel. In this story the community is united in an almost ridiculous attempt at building a tower to the heavens (a carbon monofilament of buckyballs is still some time away). Instead of using their unity for good, humankind forms a community in apparent rebellion against G-d.

All of this thematically lays the groundwork for the end of this week's parasha: the introduction of Avram, the person who will recognize the oneness of G-d and build a community around this recognition. Our tradition is based on the formation of community that acts in the purpose of doing good. This represents a synthesis of righteousness (like Noach) coupled with the power of a community in action (as in the Tower of Babel).

This week we have an excellent opportunity to engage in community building. The Ashrei project's action week is November 2 through the 9^th. One aspect of this week's activities is something that is particularly dear to me: KI's daily minyan.

Every weekday, at 7 AM and 7 PM our community comes together in the Rabb chapel for minyan (Sundays at 8 AM in the chapel and 7 PM at 100 Centre Street).

When you come to minyan you have an opportunity to connect with the community, engage in Jewish learning, comfort a mourner by your very presence, and daven in our emotionally warm chapel.