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Saturday, November 2, 2024

NOACH WAS A MAN

NOACH WAS A MAN OF…

I  was asked why Noach was tasked with such menial labor. Not only to feed the animals but even cleaning up after them and removing all refuse to the basement! 

Perhaps we may suggest that as many already have said, the world was created to an עולם חסד but over the course of time it became filled with selfish dishonesty and  חמס. The mabul was brought to reset the world upon a renewed footing of עולם חסד יבנה.  But all our successful leaders had a particular attribute that we haven't yet seen expressed in Noach. He was an ISH - which is a title often used to describe an important noble character. Our greatest leaders were all so efective because of their complete selflessness and humbleness. And so although taking care of the animals and the future of all creation was certainly chessed, the ultimate seeds for the new foundations of the world must be sown with humility. Complete, absolute self annulment. This was the avodah of Noach. Not only chessed, but selfless, self depreciating chessed. Perhaps this may also be hinted to as the successful culmination of Noach's mission; וישאר אך נח - He remained "just Noach" - without his previous illustrious titles of Ish, Tzaddik, Tamim. He remained just Noach.