This Shabbos we discussed Parsha Noach, including commentary from Rav Yeager and Rav Efraim. I would like to thank Pincus and Becky for hosting our Kiddush, and Rob and Yaki for leading our learning. It was a special Shabbos, as it was Becky’s birthday, and also Linda's birthday during the week. I would like to say mazel tov to Ariav and Ale and the entire family on their wedding.
We discussed Parsha Noach, and how those who lived during this time were the ancestors of what would later become the Jews. Yaki commented that the people did have a relationship with Hashem during the times of Noach, however it was based on fear. We discussed how Hashem punished the people with an enormous flood that killed all the people, and all living creatures except for Noah, his family and pairs of animals from each species.
Yaki commented on why animals who do not have the same free will that humans, were included in those who were punished with the flood. Yaki commented that the same way physical illness spreads by virus to everyone in the vicinity, so too does spiritual illness behave like a virus and affect all those who live in the vicinity.
We discussed how generations later, Abraham, the first Jew was born. Yaki commented that Abraham began the period of time in which our relationship of Hashem was based on love, and not only fear. In the times of Noah, we did not show love for each other, or for Hashem, however beginning with the times of Abraham, we started a new stage in which we expressed and were motivated by love. Rav Males spoke about how prayer for others, for example when we pray for the sick, shows Hashem that we love others. Rav Males commented that this prayer for others always serves a purpose, even if it does not have an effect on someone’s illness or struggles.
We discussed how the arc was built according to Hashem’s instructions, and why it took 120 years to complete. We discussed that the long time period was to give the people time to do T’Shuva. However, unfortunately, they did not, and only Noah, his family, and a select number of animals were able to board the arc and survive the flood.
We discussed how after the flood, Noah planted a vineyard and ended up getting drunk. Howard commented that anyone who had been through what Noah had been through would want to have a few drinks. Nevertheless Hashem was not pleased with the lack of spirituality going on.
We discussed how Hashem gave the people some laws they must follow, which are known as the “7 laws of Noah”. These laws were given before Abraham became the first Jew, and thus apply to all human beings, including non-Jews.
Rob shared from Rav Yeager specifics of how the flood was produced. Hashem simply stopped controlling the release and flow of water. The same way the people had lost control with their behavior of drunkenness and sexual crimes, Hashem “lost” control of the waters which were stored in clouds above the ground, and wells below the ground.
Howard asked an interesting question which is why Hashem choose to use water, rather than another form of plague, such as those used in Egypt during the time of the Exodus? One possible answer is that water symbolizes purity. The same way we use water to flush out harmful substances, water can be used to clean out a world that is not spiritual.
One of the interesting things we discussed, is that this use of water as reward or punishment continues to this day. Every year Hashem makes decisions concerning where and when it will rain. In our siddur we pray for rain. Of course, when the Torah refers to “rain” it may be referring to a broader definition that includes all types of reward in general.
We discussed from Efraim Greenblatt’s book, a summary of parsha Beirishit, and this parsha Noach. Rob commented from the book, how Hashem said it was good after every creation, but then said “very good” after man was created. We discussed 2 possible reasons why Hashem said “very good”. One of these is as an indication that man was the purpose of the creation. The other one is that the “very good" refers to everything that had been created in total.
We discussed some other ideas from Rav Efraim’s book. We discussed what it means that Hashem “came down” and revealed himself during the time of Noah. Perhaps this was to generate fear, which is what Yaki spoke on. We discussed the tower of Babel, which angered Hashem and caused him to disperse the people. We discussed the tree of knowledge, and how it contained both good and bad. And we discussed how the people went from “very good” after creation, to “good”, to “not good”, during the times of Noah.
Finally, we discussed how Hashem really does create everything, including the “tests” that he gives us. Hashem created the tree of knowledge, as well as temptations we all face in our daily lives every day. Without any temptation, we would automatically do the right thing, and be more like robots than human beings. Hashem wanted human beings created in his image, rather than robots.
This is a summary of what we discussed. No halachic rulings are intended or should be inferred.
Rob shared from Rav Yeager specifics of how the flood was produced. Hashem simply stopped controlling the release and flow of water. The same way the people had lost control with their behavior of drunkenness and sexual crimes, Hashem “lost” control of the waters which were stored in clouds above the ground, and wells below the ground.
Howard asked an interesting question which is why Hashem choose to use water, rather than another form of plague, such as those used in Egypt during the time of the Exodus? One possible answer is that water symbolizes purity. The same way we use water to flush out harmful substances, water can be used to clean out a world that is not spiritual.
One of the interesting things we discussed, is that this use of water as reward or punishment continues to this day. Every year Hashem makes decisions concerning where and when it will rain. In our siddur we pray for rain. Of course, when the Torah refers to “rain” it may be referring to a broader definition that includes all types of reward in general.
We discussed from Efraim Greenblatt’s book, a summary of parsha Beirishit, and this parsha Noach. Rob commented from the book, how Hashem said it was good after every creation, but then said “very good” after man was created. We discussed 2 possible reasons why Hashem said “very good”. One of these is as an indication that man was the purpose of the creation. The other one is that the “very good" refers to everything that had been created in total.
We discussed some other ideas from Rav Efraim’s book. We discussed what it means that Hashem “came down” and revealed himself during the time of Noah. Perhaps this was to generate fear, which is what Yaki spoke on. We discussed the tower of Babel, which angered Hashem and caused him to disperse the people. We discussed the tree of knowledge, and how it contained both good and bad. And we discussed how the people went from “very good” after creation, to “good”, to “not good”, during the times of Noah.
Finally, we discussed how Hashem really does create everything, including the “tests” that he gives us. Hashem created the tree of knowledge, as well as temptations we all face in our daily lives every day. Without any temptation, we would automatically do the right thing, and be more like robots than human beings. Hashem wanted human beings created in his image, rather than robots.
This is a summary of what we discussed. No halachic rulings are intended or should be inferred.
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