Parshat Noah

Dvar Torah by David Hoffman

In this week’s parsha G-d commands Noah to “make a light for the ark”. This commandment seems strange and the task is very unclear. The Sefas Emes explains that this commandment is meant to be taken metaphorically. He writes that Noah’s Ark is symbolic of the ark which holds the sefer Torah and that the word Teivah is symbolic of Torah and prayer. Through this commandment Hashem is attempting to convey the message that the only way for us to stay afloat, and avoid drowning in the dark and turbulent sea of sin that plagues human existence, is to clutch tightly to the floatation device known as the Torah.

However, through examining the rest of the parsha we realize that clinging to the Torah in order to shield ourselves alone is not the pinnacle of religious Judaism. After G-d wiped out the entire world the Torah writes that, “only Noah was left.” The Mishnah learns from these words that Noah became depressed after the flood because he had failed in his ultimate mission of influencing the people around him. Noah lived in a corrupt and profligate society and, despite his efforts, was unable to change others for the better. Although he was able to save himself from drowning in the tumultuous sea of darkness and sin, he failed to illuminate the path of salvation to the rest of humanity.

Perhaps Noah’s failure to spread the word of G-d can be explained through comparing his methods of kiruv to those of Avraham. During the one hundred and twenty years he spent building the ark, Noah attempted to spread the word of G-d by preaching sanctimoniously about the impending doom. He constantly admonished his peers, and warned of the impending disaster which would be brought upon the people as punishment for their nefarious sins. Conversely, Avraham did not preach down to the people he was trying to bring closer to G-d, rather, he invited them into his home and attempted to bring them closer to G-d through love and kindness.

Hopefully, we will take this lesson to heart, and be able to spread the light of Torah using the tactics of Avraham. After this year, most of us will be returning to America and going off to college campuses. As Rabbi Reichel often says, “whether you like it or not, you are going to be the Rabbi of your college campus.” Next year, it will be our responsibility to share the light of Torah with others, but we should not make the mistake of Noah, and preach arrogantly to our peers. Rather, we should embrace the strategy of Avraham and lead by example. We should do our best to convey the word of G-d through our midot and actions, and to illuminate the world around us with the divine light of Torah.

Shabbat shalom