Perashat Noah 5777

Perashat Noah 5777

Friday, November 04, 2016 Author: Rabbi Daniel Greenwald

In this week’s perasha, Noah, we read, how ten “generations” after Creation, Hashem decided to destroy the entire world – which was full of violence and immorality - and start anew through Noah and his family.  The Torah describes Noah as a perfect Saddik, a true righteous man; one who, “walked with Hashem.”  (Ber. 6:9)  We would imagine that this is the reason that he was chosen to be saved and to become the new “Adam” in the Divine do-over.  However, our sages say that this was not the reason why he was saved. Rather, Noah was saved, since he, “found favor (hen-חן) in Hashem’s eyes.”  [Sanhedrin 108]  

Why could Noah not be saved because of his righteousness?  The Or HaHayyim HaKaddosh  explains that the punishment of the Mabul – the Deluge, was different than all others.  Generally, the purpose of punishment is to correct our sins and re-set us on the right path.  When this is the case, the righteous can be spared due to their own merits.  In the case of the Mabul, however, the purpose was to terminate the entire world.  Hashem, as it were, expressed regret for creating the world and its creatures.  In such an instance, even the righteous would be affected and would suffer the fate of the sinners.  Yet, Noah was saved because he, “found favor” in Hashem’s eyes; he had hen; this was the factor that saved him.  

Why did Noah find favor – hen - in Hashem’s eyes?  Can we attain this hen as well?  The Or HaHayyim HaKaddosh  tells us that there are several missvot that are conducive for attaining hen, but we don’t know which ones they are.  As our sages explain, Hashem concealed the reward and benefits of the missvot, because if we would know what they are, people would perform certain missvot and abandon the others.  However, Noah obviously performed such a missva or missvot, which is conducive to hen, and he was therefore beloved by Hashem and was saved from the flood.  So we are still left with a question:  what is the secret to attaining hen?

Even though the Or HaHayyim HaKaddosh does not reveal it to us, there are some sources that do.  For example, the Talmud [Pesahim 113b] teaches us that Hashem loves three types of people:  (1) someone who does not get angry; (2) someone who does not get intoxicated; and (3) someone who overlooks his honor (ego) for the sake of peace.  

The first character trait is reflected in Noah’s own name, which means tranquility.  As a matter of fact, when spelled backwards, the letters of “Noah” spells hen.  Noah obviously found favor in G-d’s eyes since he was always calm and serene; he never became angry with others and he was satisfied and content with himself.  

The second character trait, that of intoxication, is usually utilized by people who are too busy drowning in their own sorrows, rather than demonstrating their true faith and trust in the Almighty.   If they had Emunah and truly trusted in Hashem, they would realize that their “problems” were all for the best, and there would not be a need for them to become intoxicated.  It is ironic that Noah, who obviously did not exhibit this trait prior to the Mabul, stumbled and failed in this matter following the Mabul.  It seems that by then, he lost his trust in Hashem, and felt too overburdened in his responsibility as the new “Adam” of the post-Deluvian world.   

With regards to the third character trait, of overlooking one’s honor, the Midrash points out to us that the people would ask Noah why he was building the Ark.  When he answered that Hashem was planning on destroying the world, he was mocked and insulted.  Yet Noah continued to build the Ark, and according to some sources, he continued to exhort the people to do Teshuba.  In this realm, he demonstrated selflessness and compassion towards others.  

There is another approach to attaining hen, which is cited by R. Hayyim Shemuelevitz in his famed “Sihot Mussar.”  He lists two things which help one achieve hen.  They are ‘Anavah – Humility, and Torah.  These were qualities that were possessed not only by Noah, who demonstrated tranquility and Torah knowledge (he knew which animals were pure and which were not), but also by Moshe Rabbenu, who, according to the Midrash [Ber. Rabba 29:1] enjoyed an unparalleled dialogue with Hashem due only to his hen, as it says:  "כי מצאת חן בעיני ואדעך בשם" - “For you have found grace in my sight, and I know you by name.”  [Shemot 33:17]

To these, we can add another trait based on the words of Tractate Derekh Eress [chap. 7] which states that Knowledge, Awe and Humility are all equal in value.  From this statement, the Tosafot [A”Z 20b] derive that a Jew needs all three qualities.  One of the renown Hasidic rabbis, R. Naphtali of Ropshiz developed this idea, that these qualities are all necessary, by pointing out that it is possible to be tranquil, and yet be a sinner; it is possible to be in awe of G-d, and yet act like a fool; it is possible to be full of knowledge, and yet be a heretic.  Indeed, all these qualities are necessary to achieve hen in the eyes of G-d.  

The secret of how to achieve hen has, therefore been revealed.  It is within our grasp.  Let us all work on perfecting ourselves so that we may merit to find hen – favor, and sekhel tov – make a good impression, on both G-d and man.