Rabbi's Corner

In this week's parashah, Parashat Noach, we read about the flood which HaShem brings upon the earth due to the evil which H-s creation, human beings, have brought upon the earth.  Only one man, Noach, and his family are allowed to survive.  The Torah tells us: "Noach ish tzadik, tamim hayah b'dorotav...." --- "Noach was a righteous man; he was perfect in his generations...."  Our Rabbis argue about this description of Noach, with some coming to the conclusion that he was not as righteous as the main character of next week's parashah, Avraham Avinu - Abraham, our Father.  But the fact remains that our Torah tells us: "...et HaElohim hit'halekh Noach." --- "...with G-d did Noach walk."  In anyone's eyes that would make Noach appear to be just as the Torah describes him: "tzadik" --- "righteous," maybe even as righteous as Avraham.  It is interesting to note, however, that our Torah tells us how Avraham was ordered by HaShem to "hit'haleikh lefanai" --- "walk in front of Me (HaShem)."  What does this mean?  Noach saw his world destroyed and reacted to this by becoming a drunk.  Avraham was so concerned about his world that he became "the Father of Nations" as is the meaning of his name.  Why the great difference between two "tzadikim" - "righteous men?"

Rashi tells us that Noach was "mi-ketanei emunah" --- "one who had little faith."  Even though HaShem told him to enter the ark, he hesitated until the rising waters finally forced him to do so.  And when the waters receded allowing Noach and his family to leave the ark, what did he do?  Again he hesitated.  The Torah tells us that Hashem ordered Noach: "Tzei min ha-teivah...." --- "Go forth from the ark...."  One would think that after being cooped up in the ark with his family and all those animals that Noach would be more than willing to exit into the brave new world that awaited him.    But the fact remains that Noach just does not want to move from his spot.

Noach does not want to march forward to make a new life for his family.  So what does he do?  He plants a vineyard and gets drunk on its produce.  In fact, he gets so inebriated that he returns to his tent and lies there naked to the world, to his family, and to HaShem.  Because he has been witness to the failure and the destruction of his world as he knew it without trying to do anything to alter the outcome, Noach once again refuses to do anything.  Why?  Because, as a human being, he does not want to fail HaShem a second time.  He gives up on both himself and life.  Thus Noach becomes the paradigm of the fear of failing.  As we will see in next week's parsahah, Avraham is the paradigm of the person who is not afraid to fail.  More than any other figure in the Torah, Avraham teaches us the the only failure that exists is failing not to try in the first place.  We only fail when we fail to take action.