Noach – Page 2 – Peninim on the Torah

ותשחת הארץ לפני האלקים ותמלא הארץ חמס

Sruly Schnair In Noach, 5784

Now the earth had become corrupt before G-d, and the earth became filled with robbery. (6:11)

The Baal HaTurim writes that the gematria, numerical equivalent, of chamas (108) is the same as mei Noach, the waters of Noach – the Flood. The Aderes (commentary to the Baal HaTurim) asks: What relationship is there between chamas, theft, and the Flood? Where is the middah k’neged middah, measure for measure? (Hashem’s punishment has a distinct relationship to/similarity with the sin.) He quotes Chazal (Sanhedrin, Perek Chelek 108a) who teach, B’roschin kilkelu, with “heat” they created a spiritual blemish (sinned), with roschin, hot water (the Flood waters were unusually hot). Roschin alludes to their immoral behavior, falling prey to…

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ויולד נח שלשה בנים את שם את חם ואת יפת

Sruly Schnair In Noach, 5784

Noach begot three sons, Shem, Cham and Yafes. (6:10)

Noticeably, Cham, who was Noach’s youngest son, is placed out of sequence. One would expect the three sons to be placed in the Torah in accordance with their birth order. In a response to a query posed by his chassidim, the Kotzker Rebbe, zl, addressed this question. Apparently, one of his chassidim fell prey to the external winds of change, and, in a short time, he left the fold. Since he had originally been one of them, the chassidim attempted to persuade him to return. When talking failed to effect a change in his behavior, they decided, or so they…

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ויאמר אלקים אל נח זאת אות הברית אשר הקמתי ביני ובין כל בשר על הארץ

Sruly Schnair In Noach, 5783

And Hashem said to Noach, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have confirmed between Me and all flesh that is upon the earth.” (9:17)

Sforno comments that the bow is a sign for the righteous Jews to commence praying for the generation. The mere fact that the bow appears is a Heavenly message that something is amiss. The people have subverted their spiritual dimension, with punishment being the Heavenly response – unless the righteous pray for Heavenly compassion. The rainbow is the sign of the covenant which Hashem made with mankind: “It is incumbent upon you (Noach), and those like you, to bestir yourselves when you see it, to rouse the people to repent and understand that they must better themselves.” (Sforno) The rainbow…

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ואתה קח לך מכל מאכל אשר יאכל ואספת אליך

Sruly Schnair In Noach, 5783

And as for you, take yourself of every food that is eaten and gather it into yourself. (6:21)

If the animals walked into the Ark on their own without having to be herded in, why could their food not, likewise, arrive on its own? Why did Noach have to go out and gather food for all the animals – enough to last them a year? The Brisker Rav, zl, explains that Noach required a special command to gather food, for, otherwise, he may very well have thought that just as the animals came of their own volition, their food should have “arrived” in the same manner. Thus, Hashem informed Noach that the animals would come on their own;…

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אלה תולדות נח נח איש צדיק תמים היה בדורותיו

Sruly Schnair In Noach, 5783

These are the offspring of Noach – Noach was a righteous man, perfect in his generation. (6:9)

A well-known debate exists among the sages concerning the term “generations” as it relates to Noach: Was he righteous only in the context of his generation, which was evil? Or, alternatively, even in his evil generation surrounded by moral corruption, he was able to remain righteous. Certainly, in the generation of Avraham Avinu, he would have been righteous. In other words, how would Noach have fared in Avraham’s generation, which was on a much higher plateau? The question is obvious: What provoked the sages, who viewed Noach in a less-than-favorable manner, to state: “Had he lived in the generation of…

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וימת הרן על פני תרח אביו... באור כשדים

Sruly Schnair In Noach, 5782

Haran died in the lifetime of his father… in Uhr Kasdim. (11:28)

Rashi quotes the Midrash that interprets the word al pnei as mipnei to mean “because of” Terach. Terach produced idols. His son, Avraham, saw the folly of idol worship and decided to do something about it. So, he smashed Terach’s wares. Fatherly love was trumped by both economics and fidelity to the evil king Nimrod. Terach felt that his son needed to be taught a lesson. Nimrod was only too happy to comply. Avraham Avinu was sentenced to be burned to death in the fiery caldron. Haran, Avraham’s brother, was challenged to choose between Avraham and Nimrod. Not being a…

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ותשחת הארץ לפני האלקים ותמלא הארץ חמס...ויהי כל הארץ שפה אחת ודברים אחדים

Sruly Schnair In Noach, 5782

Now the earth had become corrupt before G-d; and the earth became filled with robbery. (6:11)….The whole earth was of one language and of common purpose. (11:1)

Parashas Noach presents two cultures, both evil: one was destroyed; and the other was dispersed – but allowed to live. The generation of the Flood was destroyed. Although the people’s sin was not so much directed Heavenward, their base immorality, lack of ethical character, and their licentious behavior earned them such ignominious repute that they had to be destroyed. The generation of the Dispersal, however, worked together to build a world community, sow the seeds of a single culture with themselves in the leadership role. They had no room for G-d in their lives. Chazal (Sanhedrin 109a) distinguish between the…

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ויצא נח

Sruly Schnair In Noach, 5782

So Noach went forth. (8:18)

The flood waters receded, and Hashem instructed Noach to leave the Ark. Chazal (Zohar 1:256) teach that when Noach exited the Teivah, Ark, and beheld the devastating destruction of humanity, he began to weep uncontrollably. He said to Hashem: “Ribono Shel Olam, You are called Rachum, Merciful; thus, You should have been merciful on Your creations.” Hashem replied, “Now you come with complaints. Why did you not issue your defense for humanity when I told you My plans to send a flood that would destroy the world? You made an Ark to save yourself and your family. Why did it…

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צא מן התיבה אתה ואשתך

Sruly Schnair In Noach, 5782

Go forth from the Ark, you and your wife. (8:16)

Chazal teach that when Noach emerged from the Ark to find a world destroyed, he complained to Hashem: “You should have shown mercy on Your children.” Hashem replied, “Foolish shepherd, you should have spoken up before I destroyed the world.” Clearly, Chazal’s words are laden with profound wisdom and numerous lessons. One message that Hashem’s words immediately impart addresses the need to care for others. Noach knew that a flood would occur. He seemed to be concerned for himself and his family. At the end of his journey, when he perceived the scope of the devastation, it hit home that…

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הבה נבנה לנו עיר ומגדל וראשו בשמים ונעשה לנו שם

Sruly Schnair In Noach, 5781

“Come, let us build a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves.” (11:4)

Researchers say that those who participate in extreme sports do it because they want to have a life-altering experience. They are individuals who are anything but irresponsible risk takers, but rather, highly trained men and women with a deep knowledge of themselves, who simply want to experience an activity that is life-enhancing and life-changing. For them, it is an exhilarating experience that makes them come alive, transcending everyday ways of being and glimpsing their own potential. They view dealing with death as an affirmation of life that gives it greater meaning. There are those who seek to carve out a…

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ותשחת הארץ לפני האלקים ותמלא הארץ חמס

Now the earth had become corrupt before G-d, and the earth became filled with robbery. (6:11)

ויולד נח שלשה בנים את שם את חם ואת יפת

Noach begot three sons, Shem, Cham and Yafes. (6:10)

ויאמר אלקים אל נח זאת אות הברית אשר הקמתי ביני ובין כל בשר על הארץ

And Hashem said to Noach, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have confirmed between Me and all flesh that is upon the earth.” (9:17)

ואתה קח לך מכל מאכל אשר יאכל ואספת אליך

And as for you, take yourself of every food that is eaten and gather it into yourself. (6:21)

אלה תולדות נח נח איש צדיק תמים היה בדורותיו

These are the offspring of Noach – Noach was a righteous man, perfect in his generation. (6:9)

וימת הרן על פני תרח אביו... באור כשדים

Haran died in the lifetime of his father… in Uhr Kasdim. (11:28)

ותשחת הארץ לפני האלקים ותמלא הארץ חמס...ויהי כל הארץ שפה אחת ודברים אחדים

Now the earth had become corrupt before G-d; and the earth became filled with robbery. (6:11)….The whole earth was of one language and of common purpose. (11:1)

ויצא נח

So Noach went forth. (8:18)

צא מן התיבה אתה ואשתך

Go forth from the Ark, you and your wife. (8:16)

הבה נבנה לנו עיר ומגדל וראשו בשמים ונעשה לנו שם

“Come, let us build a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves.” (11:4)

YEARS

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