Noach – Peninim on the Torah

Now these are the chronicles of Terach, Terach begot Avram, Nachor and Haran…Haran died in the lifetime of Terach his father. (11:27,28)

The Torah traces the genealogy of Avraham Avinu. It records the names of his two brothers, Nachor and Haran, and adds that Haran died during his father Terach’s lifetime. Rashi cites the Midrash that claims that Haran actually died because of his father. Terach was an idol merchant who complained to the wicked Nimrod that his son, Avraham, had smashed his wares. Nimrod could not tolerate that someone “defaced” his idols, so he threw Avraham into a fiery furnace. Haran was challenged to decide between his brother and his king. Should he follow Avraham, whose belief in monotheism made sense?…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Noach, 5759

They said, “Come, let us build a city for ourselves and a tower whose top will be in the heavens, and we will make a name for ourselves. (11:4)

“We will make a name for ourselves” is the attitude one would expect from an individual with an insecure ego. Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl, remarks that becoming aware of one’s ego can lead to two possible attitudes: humility or arrogance. An obsession with one’s insignificance can either stimulate one to do something for the common good, to serve humanity, or it can drive him to defy what he believes is an inexorable destiny, to break the shackles of human limitations by revolting against Hashem. The people of that generation chose arrogance. They could not accept the fact that one’s worth,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Noach, 5759

Cham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside. (9:22)

Noach’s other two sons, Shem and Yafes, remained outside the tent out of respect for their father. They had no desire to take part in their father’s degradation. Not so Cham, who boldly entered the tent and emerged later to relate the scene that he had witnessed. Pirkei D’Rabbi Eliezer comments on the depravity of Cham. He himself was a father who should have set an example for his own children. He should have felt different about debasing his father, knowing fully well the impression this would leave on his own children. No, he took pleasure in observing and relating…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Noach, 5759

Hashem said to Noach, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with robbery through them.” (6:13)

The people had become overtly corrupt. At first they committed immorality and idolatry. Then their sinning “progressed” to blatant robbery. Their covert sins led to overt corruption, for which Hashem would not forgive them. Rashi cites Chazal, who say that, indeed, Hashem did not seal their verdict until they began stealing from one another. This is enigmatic. Is stealing more sinful than immorality, idolatry and murder? Horav Dov Eliezrov, zl, explains that while stealing is certainly not as evil as the three cardinal sins of immorality, murder and idolatry, it is, however, the bitter root of evil. It indicates the…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Noach, 5759

Noach was a righteous man…Noach walked with Hashem. (6:9)

Noach walked with Hashem. This seems to be a positive comment about Noach’s virtue, until we note that the Torah writes about Avraham Avinu, “Hashem before whom I walked,” (Bereishis 24:40). Rashi notes that Avraham walked in front, without assistance. Noach walked with Hashem; he needed the support of the Almighty to maintain his spiritual strength. Without prompting from Above, Noach would have faltered. Avraham, on the other hand, had the spiritual fortitude to single-handedly override the challenges that confronted him. Chazal use the term, “hisorrerus d’l’eila,” inspired from Above, in reference to Noach’s spiritual commitment. In contrast, Avraham…

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Now these are the chronicles of Terach, Terach begot Avram, Nachor and Haran…Haran died in the lifetime of Terach his father. (11:27,28)

They said, “Come, let us build a city for ourselves and a tower whose top will be in the heavens, and we will make a name for ourselves. (11:4)

Cham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside. (9:22)

Hashem said to Noach, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with robbery through them.” (6:13)

Noach was a righteous man…Noach walked with Hashem. (6:9)

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