Parashah of the Week:   Saturday, October 16, 2004

               B”H

This week we read the extraordinary story of Noah.  As you well know, just ten generations after the first man’s creation, the Torah tells us that the earth was filled with corruption and violence. 

G-d is full of humankind and ready to destroy it, when He discovers in Noah a just person in his generation, a person for whom is worth saving the world and not starting over everything.

G-d decides to bring a flood upon the Earth’s surface, but orders Noah to build an ark for himself, his family and several of each animal  in order to survive the coming flood.

If you analyze the Bible text carefully, you will notice Noah had doubts and fears regarding the mission he had to accomplish.  In fact, he and his family entered the ark only when G-d ordered them to do so (Genesis 7:1).  If it was not for that command, maybe Noah would not have been saved, either. 

Even after entering the ark, the Torah recounts that G-d closed the ark completely (Genesis 7:16).

We can understand Noah; he was scared, didn’t know what was going to happen.  After all, he was as human as any of us, and I believe none of us will show enthusiasm with the idea of living a couple of months locked in an ark, surrounded by animals and with a total uncertainty about was is to come.  We can say that Noah’s fear was comprehensible.

Nevertheless, the most interesting part of the story, regarding doubts and fears, happens right after the flood ends.  The Torah reports that Noah sent out a raven, and then a dove, to verify that the land was dry.  The dove didn’t return, the proof was irrefutable:  Noah could come out of the ark.  Nevertheless, the text says: “G-d spoke to Noah saying, Come out of the ark, together with your wife, your sons and your sons wives.” (Genesis 8:15-16)  From here we learn that Noah only exited the ark when G-d so commanded.

Incredible!  Noah lived closed in an ark during a year, surrounded by water, without the possibility of stepping on dry land, and when the flood ends … I would expect Noah to jump and shout out of happiness for stepping on dry land again!

But no.  Noah doubts and fears again, he remains, he is comfortable in the ark.  What was terrible at the beginning is no more, abnormal became normal.

Sometimes it happens to us: certain life circumstances compel us to get into an ark.  A great personal failure, the death of a beloved, a separation; a great change in our personal life or surroundings.  Situations such as these makes us feel like being covered by the water… it is natural that for some time me remain in silence, closed in, slower.

But that period of time must be limited - not for everyone the same, but limited after all.  At certain moments we should listen to that inner voice telling us:  “It’s time!  You must get out!  Go and walk on dry land again!"

The story of the flood teaches us, among other things, that in life there is a time for everything, sometimes we don’t have more option than to wait and see wounds healing over, but there’s a time limit even for that.  And then, in a moment we must be strong and surpass fear and doubts and throw ourselves onto the life’s land, again.  We can do it!

            Shabbat Shalom.