Tomer Belkin – Year 11 2017

Parashah

In this week’s parashah we focus on what many call the second story of creation. In it we find Noach and his family, tasked with the laborious mission of building a giant ark which will serve as a sanctuary for his family and specimens of the animals of earth (as known to him). “Why do they need refuge?” Since humanity had become violent and corrupt, God came to the decision to flood the earth until mountains were no longer seen and all life on the lands of earth had been purged. The ark and all those who took refuge on it were spared.

I’m sure we all know the full story, including the part where Noach sends out a raven, then a dove and the part where the dove comes back with the olive branch which is now seen as an international symbol of peace. Once the flood cleared, God made a covenant with Noach, promising never to destroy the human race again. 

Despite this, in the very same parashah we see the story of the tower of Bavel, pretty famous but not as well known. In this story, the descendants of Noach, despite being previously instructed to spread out and be fruitful amongst the land, settled in one location, and built a city. This symbolises a defiance of god and, to some, as a metaphorical salt in the wound. Now the motives behind building a tower, reaching into the heavens “to make a name for ourselves” and not be “scattered throughout the world” is debatable. But what is known is that God “confounded their speech” so that humanity developed a bunch of different languages and scattered throughout the world. 

Even though it wasn’t a giant flood that killed literally everybody, we see God punishing all of humanity, almost immediately after promising not to unleash so much wrath (granted in different context). This got me thinking… throughout my life I’ve been pretty angry at a handful of people, and I know Yom Kippur has come and gone, but I don’t think that should be the only time to forgive people. I see God’s actions in this segment as being blind and wrathful, and from that I think to myself, who can I forgive? So I encourage you to reflect on those who have wronged you, and to not just look at them as being annoying, but as people who might be going through something. I mean High School can be a time of stress. Try to see the people you dislike and the people who have wronged you as a person with feelings, and try, and I know it might not be easy, but try to maybe… give them another chance.

Gabriel Sebban – Year 11 2017

Jade Reuveny – Year 11 2017

Noach

We all know the story of Noach, right? A guy that turns out to be the only righteous man left on earth, and so God tells him to build an ark and everyone but he and some animals die, right? Well, if for some reason you have no idea what we’re talking about, here’s a summary of this week’s parashah, Noach.

Noach is introduced to us as a righteous man, in stark contrast to a generation that “has perverted its ways”. God says to Noach, “Because the earth is filled with wrongdoing and corruption…I am going to destroy it.  Make yourself an ark…for animals and gather food for all aboard.  I shall flood the earth and destroy all life… It is with you, your wives and sons, I will maintain My Covenant.  It is you who have been righteous before Me in this corrupt age.  In seven days, I will blot out everything in existence that I have made.”

Before we go into what happens next, here is an interesting side note, did you know that the flood is said to have begun on October 27, 2106 B.C.E? That’s a pretty long time ago…

Anyway, the flood happens: for 40 days and nights the waters increased, destroying all living things. The water raged upon the surface of the earth for 150 days, and then diminished for the next 150. The Ark finally rested upon Mt. Ararat. After 40 days Noach opened a window and sent out a raven but it returned for lack of a place to land. After seven more days Noach sent out a dove, but it too returned from flying over the waters. After seven more days Noach sent out another dove. This time the dove returned with a freshly plucked olive leaf in its beak. Noach waited seven more days before sending the dove out again. This time the dove did not return and Noach knew that the waters had subsided and the land had dried.

Now knowing that it is safe to exit the ark, Noach and his family offer sacrifices to God, before being presented with a rainbow, as a covenant to show that God will never again destroy the world. Noach lived after the flood for 350 years and died when he was 950 years and he had many descendants. Pretty crazy, huh? 

Okay but what now? 

The Kabbalists explain that “taiva,” the Hebrew word for “ark,” also means “word.” For there are two sides of the same coin. Each of us wants to build an ARK ― the best life possible for ourselves and our family to carry ourselves through the “flood”. Yet at the same time we are obligated to use the power of WORDS to reach out and influence others in the best possible way. Noach was given 120 years to build his “taiva,” his ark, (now, living in a realistic 21st century where average life expectancy is 82 – meaning we have a short amount of time in comparison to Noach). Or, to reach out and influence others. 

“BUT HOW?” you ask, 

WELL… we, as Noach should have done, can speak out against inequalities or injustices in our day to day lives. We can understand clearly why humanity must refuse to tolerate gossip and strife between individuals. Noah’s failure to try and influence his generation is why the Flood is called “the waters of Noach” (Isaiah 54:9). Don’t think the problem isn’t affecting you. Because it is.

Let’s commit to taking responsibility ― for ourselves, our family, our community, our world.