16 Lessons
Noach Preparing the Way for the Land of Israel
This week's Torah portion of Noah takes us up to (and past) the birth of Avraham Avinu, in the year 1948 after Creation – and nary a word seems to be mentioned about the Land of Israel throughout these almost two millennia! Is this not very strange, considering that the Foundation Stone – Even HaShtiyah – from where the world was actually created, is located in the Land, on what later became the Temple Mount? The longed-for Garden of Eden, too, is located in our Holy Land. How could the Land play such a minor role in the first 2,000 years of human history?
Parashat Hashavua The Ancestors and Enemies of Avraham
It is clear from the p’sukim of Parashat Bereishit that Adam, Chava, Kayin, and Hevel all believed in Hashem and in fact had the privilege to engage in discussion with Him, each in his or her own way. Even when they strayed from the proper path, they merited hearing words of rebuke from Hashem, which, along with the harsh words, showed great closeness.
Noach Tzaddik and Tamim
We have explained in the past that Shaul was chosen as king because his family “lit up dark roads.” We will now try to determine from whom they learned this trait. Noach is categorized in the parasha’s opening as a man who is tzaddik (righteous) tamim (perhaps most safely translated as complete). Some say that these two adjectives relate to different sides of his persona. Ibn Ezra and Seforno say he was a tzaddik in his actions and tamim in his thought. Avot D’Rabbi Natan says that tamim related to his body, as he was born circumcised, so he was complete without the need to be fixed. The Ramban says that tamim means that he was complete in his righteousness.