October 31, 2024 / Tishrei 29, 5785 • Parshat Noach
Issue 844
Dedicated in loving memory of Mrs. Miriam Friedman

The second section of the Book of Genesis is named after its central character, Noah (Noach, in Hebrew), and begins with the account of the great Flood that washed the world clean of the depravity and degeneration into which humanity had sunk since the creation of the world.

Of all living beings, of all flesh, you must bring two of each species into the ark with you; they must be male and female. 

Genesis. 6:19


Metaphorically, the Flood represents the distractions that threaten to “drown” our Divine consciousness, and the ark is the safe environment of Torah study and prayer that we construct to rescue ourselves from the world’s distractions. In this sense, each of us is a Noach, whose duty it is to bring anyone and everyone in danger of spiritually “drowning” – ourselves included – into the shelter of our personal, spiritual “ark.”

The doctrine of Divine Providence implies that when G-d arranges for us to know that someone in danger, it is because He wants us to help that person and bring him or her closer to G-dliness.

--Daily Wisdom Volume 3