Welcome back to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel, the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa and based in Mason City. A reminder that we will hold services on Friday Evening (20 October) starting at 7:00PM and then our Midrash (Study Session) will take place on Shabbat (21 October) starting at 10:00AM. All are welcome to attend. And, please see the press release at the end of this edition from our shul president, Alan Steckman.
Parsha Noah
This week we read the second "chapter" of the Torah, Noah (Gen. 6:9 - 11:32). It is the familiar story of Noah and the Ark. Perhaps one of the best known stories of the Torah. However, in this reading we learn some fascinating things about Noah, the people of his time and of G-d. It is also interesting that during these times we are reading Noah...a name that means rest, comfort and...peace.
The Parsha tells us: "These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a man, righteous and pure in his generation." (Gen. 6:9) The Hebrew word for man is "ish," for which the Yiddish equivalent is "mentsch." The Torah teaches us that first and foremost, each of us must try to be a mentsch. The word mentsch can also allude to integrity, respect, kindness – goals toward which we must all strive. The first questions that Jewish parents traditionally ask regarding a potential spouse for their daughter is, "Is he a mentsch? Does he have fine character traits?"
But, The Ark?
A famous Midrash based on this week's Parsha asks, "If there are so many ways through which G-d could have saved Noah, then why did He make him go through the difficult, arduous task of building an Ark that took 120 years to complete?"
It's a great question.
The Midrash answers that Hashem, in His infinite mercy, did not want to bring the Flood upon the world. G-d desires to preserve life, not destroy it. Even as a father yearns for his estranged children, so too, G-d was hoping that His errant sons and daughters would heed His call, abandon their evil ways, and return to Him. Thus, if Noah were seen to be busily building his Ark day in and day out, people would ask him what he was doing. Then he would inform them about the impending Flood and tell them that they could cancel the evil decree through repentance. It was all in their hands.
But this Midrash begs yet another question: Why couldn't Noah speak to the people directly? Why did he need the Ark as a prop? Why couldn't he inspire the people to mend their ways? The answer to this question can be found in the beginning of the Parsha: "Now the earth had become corrupt before G-d," (Gen. 6:12) This is teaching us that it was only in the sight of G-d that the earth was corrupt; man saw nothing wrong with his lifestyle. How does it happen that man can be so blind to his own faults and corruption?
The Lesson
Rabbi Yisroel Salanter explains the process that brings about this moral blindness: The first time a man commits a wrong, he feels guilty, but if he repeats that act often enough, his conscience will no longer bother him and eventually he will even see himself as a paragon of virtue. So it is that immorality, decadence, and degeneracy become the accepted way of life and are no longer considered sinful.
So how does this impact us during such a time when we all seem to be so involved in so many "earthly" efforts? So busy that we never ask the question: "How does G-d see...us?"
So, what do we do? We have talked about this so many times. Ongoing Torah study is the most effective remedy. When we study G-d's Word we hear His voice, and we come to realize how far we have departed from His path. We can then take steps to come closer to Him. And what does that look like? Attending shul on a regular basis. Picking up your Chumash and reading not only the portion but also the commentary. Give charity. Be kind. Pick up one Mitzvah a week. Become knowledgeable about your faith and the faith of others.
This, my friends, is not difficult and the reward is so very great.
Thank you for reading, Shabbat Shalom and pray for peace.
Here is the Press Release which was sent out this week to media in the Mason City area:
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