Noach

Hi,

This week's portion is Noach:

The portion begins as Gd tells Noach to build the ark. Gd is going to destroy the world via a Flood, due to His frustration with the population's acts of Chamas. Chamas refers to the self-serving use of force to take property from people, or to kidnap people themselves. Gd decides to roll Creation back to its beginning, restoring the world to a lifeless state in which the land is again covered by water.

Gd instructs Noach to build a large ark, and save the remnants of the world's population. This exercise in kindness would stand as a strong foundation for the post-Flood world.

After the Flood, the ark lands. Noach proves that he has learned the lesson of generosity, by offering a gift to Gd from his own property. Gd then declares that He will not bring another Flood; people have natural greedy aspirations, but they can also overcome those desires. Gd assigns the rainbow special symbolism, marking His covenant with humanity.

Noach grows grapes and drinks their wine, and becomes intoxicated. His grandson, Canaan, a forerunner of the nations the Jews would meet on leaving Egypt, abuses the drunken Noach. Noach curses Canaan, and Canaan's descendants.

We are then told of the lineage of Noach's descendants, down to Avraham and Sarah.

Have a great day,
Mordechai