Overview
of the Weekly Reading: Noach
To
be read on 6 Cheshvan 5764 (Nov. 1)
Noach
is the 2nd Reading out of 12 in Genesis and 2nd overall,
and 15th out of 54 in overall length.
Torah:
Genesis 6:9-11:32;
Haftorah: Isaiah 54:1-55:5
(which mentions "the waters of Noach")
Pirkei
Avot: not till after Passover
G-d
told Noach that the world was filled with perversion and He will destroy it through
a flood. He ordered Noach to build an ark, promising to save him and his family.
He also told him to bring into the ark seven pairs of every clean animal and two
pairs of every unclean animal, and seven pairs of every bird, as well as food
for his family and for the animals. It rained for 40 days and nights, and all
was destroyed. The water remained for a year. G-d then commanded Noach to leave
the ark, and promised that He would never again cause such mass destruction by
flood. Noach offers sacrifices from the clean species. G-d placed a rainbow in
the sky as a sign of this covenant. As a result of an unpleasant incident, Noach
cursed his son Cham, whose son was Canaan, that he would always be slave to his
brothers. The Torah then chronicles the generations of Noach’s sons. The earth
had one language, and the people decided to build a tower to heaven. G-d saw this,
and made the people speak different languages so that they could not understand
each other. He then scattered them across the world. The chronicles continue through
to Avram, who married Sarai. They settled in Charan.
FROM
THE MASTERS OF KABBALA (K:02-64/Noach)
From the holy
Zohar, teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai
(Z:02-64/Noach)
Now
don't think that [because] Noah and all with him were saved [there must have been
judgment mixed with mercy]. He was hidden from sight and not seen [by the destructive
powers and therefore was saved].
For the full article, click to
the "Weekly Torah" section on our KabbalaOnline
site.
* * * * *
From
the holy Ari, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria of Safed
(A:02-64/Noach)
To
explain further: The [original] garment of Adam was the light that corresponds
to the [aspect of the soul known as] Nefesh. This [light] was like the fourth
"shell," which is attached to holiness and is called Noga ["glow"], half of which
is from holiness and half of which is from evil. When evil prevails [over it],
it becomes wholly evil; when holiness [prevails], the opposite happens.
For
the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section on our KabbalaOnline
site.
* * * * *
From
the Shelah, Shney Luchot HaBrit by Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz
(S:02-64/Noach)
We
also have a statement by our sages explaining the two different introductions
to the psalms "L'Dovid Mizmor" and "Mizmor L'Dovid". In the former, the Divine
Inspiration came to David only after he had commenced to play the harp, whereas
the words "Mizmor L'Dovid" indicate that the Divine Inspiration overcame David
even before he commenced playing the harp (Pesachim 117). "L'Dovid Mizmor" represents
the highest spiritual achievement of man, seeing that he initiates his spiritual
achievement. If man only responds to an "injection" of Divine Inspiration, the
achievement is of a lower order.
For the full article, click to
the "Weekly Torah" section on our KabbalaOnline
site.
FROM THE CHASSIDIC REBBES
(V:02-64/Noach)
"Make
for yourself an ark of gopher wood." (6:14)
If the purpose of
the ark was "to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth"-to make
sure that each animal species continued to propagate-why did G-d instruct Noach
to make it "for himself"? Because man's place in the universe is unique
and crucial to all of creation. If he conducts himself according to G-d's will,
he raises up and elevates the entire world; if not, he drags down the entire planet
with him.
(Sefer HaMaamarim 5699) (from L'Chaim #540)
"Behold,
I Myself bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh." (6:17)
If the intention of the Flood was only to destroy evildoers, surely G-d could
have gotten rid of them in some other way. Rather, the purpose of the Flood was
to purify the world from the uncleanliness of that generation's corruption. The
Midrash explains that the verse in Ezekiel (22:24) - "You are the land that
is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation" - refers to the
Land of Israel, which remained untouched by the Flood. This is textual proof that
the true purpose of the Flood was spiritual purification.
(Torah Ohr)
(from L'Chaim #589)
A
MYSTICAL CHASSIDIC DISCOURSE
from the Chabad
Master series, produced by Rabbi Yosef Marcus for
www.ascentofsafed.com
and www.kabbalaonline.org
An
essay from Rabbi Shaul Yosef Leiter, director of Ascent 
(for a free weekly email subscription,
click here)
(W:02-64/Noach )
This
week's entire Torah portion is connected to Noach's ark. Rashi, the main
commentator, asks why G-d commanded Noach to trouble himself with such a massive
task and answers that its purpose was to encourage the many wrong doers at that
time. When they would see Noach building the ark and they would ask what he is
doing and would hear that there would be a flood, perhaps they would do teshuvah
-return to the proper spiritual path.
But it
is not so simple. Wouldn't it have been enough for Noach to go out and campaign
for their teshuvah? Why was the ark necessary? And even if he did build
the ark, what about those individuals who lived far away who would never see it,
what benefit would they derive?
The Imrei
Melech suggests that we can learn the answer from the following story. Reb
Zusha of Anipoli was once visiting his Rebbe, the Magid of Mezrich, when
a certain man came in to ask for assistance. With a blast of spiritual insight,
Reb Zusha saw that this person was a big sinner and he had no intention of correcting
his negative acts. He became enraged that such a person would have the audacity
to place himself before such a holy man as the Magid. In his rage he shouted at
him, enumerated his sins publicly, and rebuked him for disgracing the sanctity
of the magid. Nevertheless, within a short time, Reb Zushe severely regretted
his actions and the Magid blessed he that he should no longer see bad in Jewish
people. This is not understood. Isn't it better that a tzadik be upset
by the negative traits in people so they can rebuke them earnestly and get them
back on the right path? In fact this was even the modus operandi of Reb Zusha
and his saintly brother Reb Elimelech who would travel from Jewish community to
community, with just that purpose, to get people to do teshuvah?
The
answer is: Every Jewish person is basically good, only sometimes the good is covered
externally and the individual does not have the power to overcome the evil that
controls him. How do we help them? With some people, rebuking them succeeds in
shaking them up and then, with some introspection, they are able to get back on
the right track. Unfortunately there are others who are so far off track, so calloused
to the words of others, that rebuking does not help. With these people only love
and kindness can do the trick, strengthening their innermost point of their heart
and bringing them to regret their evil actions.
The person that came to the
Magid was of this latter type where harsh words would not help at all, and when
Reb Zushe realized this, he regretted his actions and would not be consoled until
the Magid blessed him that he would not see evil in this (latter) type of person.
Now
we can understand the purpose of the building of the ark. The generation that
lived just before the flood was also like the latter individuals who were filled
with so much evil that rebuke did not help. The divine command to build the ark
was a subtle and suggestive technique to arouse them to do teshuvah. This
is one meaning of what the Zohar (Parshas Noach) says, that the ark was
like the supernal mother who was able to dig into the inner part of the heart
of even her far away children. (from Beor Hachasidus).
One lesson
Noach's Ark teaches us is that however justified we may think we are in how we
address others, it is still crucial to pause and consider if this will in fact
be the best course of action. And certainly when all the Jewish people treat each
other in a respectful way, this will hasten the arrival of Mashiach.
Shabbat
Shalom, Shaul Leiter
(for
a free weekly email subscription, click
here)
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