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Bs”d Noah 5784
Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites
Parashat Noah tells the story of the flood, when human beings acted in a corrupt and lawless manner, to the extent that G-d regretted creating the world and decided to destroy all of humanity, sparing only Noah, who was deemed a “righteous man” and his immediate family. To fulfill this purpose, G-d instructed Noah to build an ark in which he would dwell with his family and a representative sample of the animal kingdom, while a massive deluge of water engulfed the entire world.
The way the Torah presents Noah is unique. Noah is not the only righteous individual mentioned in the Torah, but he is the only one who is explicitly described as “righteous.” We do not find this designation for other significant figures in Jewish history. But about Noah, it is said, “He was a righteous man; he was blameless in his generation.” Furthermore, when G-d instructs Noah to enter the ark, it is articulated with the words, “For I have seen you as righteous before Me in this generation.” G-d explicitly tells Noah, “You are righteous in My eyes.”
This leads to the question: Why is Noah referred to in this particular way?
The Rebbe of Lubavitch (Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of blessed memory) offers an explanation. Noah was indeed a good and upright person, which set him apart from the corrupt society of his time. However, G-d wanted Noah to assume a different role, one that was more significant – that of being the “savior of humanity.” When G-d commanded Noah to build the ark, Noah might have faced mockery and social challenges that could have discouraged him and prevented him from fulfilling the task assigned to him. How could Noah gather the strength and courage to stand up to a corrupt society and build the ark?
There’s a story about a wealthy man who was confronted by a criminal who threatened to take his money. In a final plea, the wealthy man said, “You seem like a good person; why are you taking money from my children?” The criminal responded, “Because I want to drink vodka.” The wealthy man gave him some money and the criminal left. The next day, the criminal approached the man in the same place and gave him back the money. When the man inquired why, he explained, “I am twenty-seven years old, and yesterday was the first time someone called me a good person. All my life, people told me I was wicked and had no future. You were the first one to see something good in me, and I refuse to take money from you…”
When G-d told Noah, “For I have seen you as righteous before Me in this generation,” He meant to infuse Noah with the faith and strength to face society’s ridicule and scorn, to build the ark despite the mockery and degradation. G-d said to Noah, “You’ve got this! You have the strength to confront the surrounding society, to build the ark in spite of mockery and belittlement.” This was to enable Noah to fulfill his mission to be the person who saves humanity from complete extinction.
When we expect our children to excel in their studies, behave appropriately, or consider others, we can influence their aspirations by showering them with good and praiseworthy words that build their self-esteem and empower them to succeed, just as one waters a plant for it to flourish. Demands presented with degrading and hurtful language often go unfulfilled because children respond angrily and want to prove they’re not going to be bossed around. Conversely, when we believe in our children and express our appreciation for them, it provides them with the strength and determination to succeed.
