Parashat Noach
Noach has always seemed one of the most irrelevant of all the Parshiot in the Torah. There are so many parts of it that are difficult to understand much less justify with our contemporary understanding of the world. Even the basic premise that G!d punishes the whole world for the sins of man seems to contradict what our Sages wrote in the Talmud, that reward and punishment for sins are in the world to come. Yet this year the lesson of Noach seems so clear and so contemporary. G!d tells us very clearly in Parshat Noach that the actions of one person have a tremendous effect on the ability of life to continue and thrive on Earth. Never forget this or let someone pretend that it is not explicit in our text.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Yehoshua Ellis