Perashat Noah 5776

Perashat Noah 5776

In today's popular culture, reference is made to a fictitious comic-book character named Captain Obvious, whose main super-power is the ability to state self-evident facts.  Often, someone may remark, "Thank you, Captain Obvious!" in order to sarcastically thank someone who just stated something evident.
 
In Perashat Noah, we are introduced to the Sheva Missvot B'nei Noah, the Seven Noahide Laws which apply to all mankind.  There is a dispute among the commentators as to whether these missvot were given only after the Flood, or whether they were in force since the creation of Adam HaRishon, of man. The Hizkuni explains that the Noahide Laws were not given until after the Flood.  He points out, however, that this raises the following question:  How could the Almighty punish the Dor HaMabul, the generation of the flood, if they had not yet been given any commandments?  The only missva given to mankind at that time was not to eat from the Ess Hada'at, the Tree of Knowledge.  The Hizkuni therefore concludes that Hashem holds man accountable for anything that we know is logically wrong.  Since the generation of the Flood behaved in a corrupt manner, they were liable to punishment.  So too was the case of Kayin, who was punished for the murder of his brother, Hevel.  Even though there was no prohibition of murder at that time, Kayin was still deemed guilty, as man is expected to understand that murder is obviously wrong.

Rabbi A. Bruckheimer (Al HaRishonim) quotes the famed Rabbi Yonatan Eybeschutz zs"l, who was once asked by a non-Jew, "If Jews have a rule to follow the majority, why don't they accept the religion of the non-Jews, since the non-Jews are the majority in the world?"  Rabbi Eybeschutz responded that we follow the majority only in cases of uncertainty, but when the truth is clear, we follow the truth and ignore the opinion of the majority.  

There is a famous passage in the Talmud which tells us that when we appear in the Heavenly Court after our lifetime, each person will be asked a series of questions:  Did you  deal honestly in business, did you set aside time for Torah study; did you marry and have a family, and did you anticipate the Redemption [Shabbat 31a].  On the surface, it seems rather strange that we will be questioned about these particular missvot that do not seem to have anything in common with each other!  Rabbi Bruckheimer answers that these are specific examples of missvot that should be obvious to every Jew.

We can see from this we are going to be held accountable for that which is apparent.  A person cannot claim that he was not commanded to do certain acts or missvot, or maintain certain beliefs - if they are obvious.  Boreh Olam has graciously given us the intelligence and wisdom for the betterment of ourselves as individuals and for society as a whole...And you don't even have to be Captain Obvious to know that!