A Tzaddik in Pelts
When it is winter and freezing, you can either build a fire which keeps everyone around you warm or you can put on a fur coat (pelts) which only keeps you warm.
A tzaddik is a righteous person. However, Noach was seen as a tzaddik in pelts (a righteous person in a fur coat). Why is Noach called a tzaddik in pelts? Because Noach was a very righteous person who was connected to Hashem, but when Hashem told him He was going to flood the world, Noach didn’t pray to save everyone else. Even if he thought it was impossible, Noach should have tried because everything is possible with Hashem. If the people repented, they would have been saved from the flood. But Noach only saved himself.
Elevating Creation
Imagine an entire body with all its various parts. If each part is only worried about itself, then each part will have problems. The feet can’t see a snake, but the eyes can. The eyes can’t run from the danger they see, but the feet can. If the feet want to run, but the legs don’t - the body won’t get very far.
The eyes saw the snake and said, “That won’t harm me; I’m way up here on the head.” The feet got bit, and they wanted to run, but the legs didn’t want to go. The bite caused the legs to feel weak and need rest, so the legs did what was best for the legs and laid down, lowering the head to the ground. And then the eyes got bit as well.
If you use words in a good way but only to help yourself, then you may hurt those around you, and eventually, you’ll hurt yourself. If you use your words for the good of the world, then you’ll uplift all of the various parts of creation together with you. You’ll become one with Hashem’s purpose for you.
Take Action!
Noach was amidst a world filled with chaos and division but remained righteous. Even though this world is filled with division and darkness, we can be a light to everyone and shine love into our lives and those around us.
Reach out to someone today and extend a hand of friendship, understanding, or forgiveness. Seek to bridge any gaps that may exist between you and another person. It could be a family member, a friend, a neighbor, or even a stranger. Engage in an act of kindness, no matter how small, to promote unity and harmony.
Sparks of Wisdom
The Story of Yonah
The word “dove” in Hebrew is Yonah (Jonah). Yonah is another story involving waters, a boat, and a ‘yonah’. What similarities and differences are there in these two stories?
Reading through a different lens
The spirit of Hashem is often symbolized by a dove. Think of Noach as a representation of Hashem, the ark as His temple, and the animals as His people. Consider Isaiah 11:2, and read the story of Noach again.
Discussion “Hashem descended to look at the city and the tower which the sons of man built” (Bereishit 11:). Obviously, we would not assume chipmunks and hippos built it, so why did Hashem think it was necessary to tell us that “sons of man” built it?
A. They were like man (Adam) by bringing sin into the world
that Hashem just made perfect again.
B. It was only the strong sons of Noach who built it, without
the help of animals to carry or pull anything.
C. To indicate that they were not acting like sons of Hashem.
D. A different reason
Sabbath Table Questions
1. What did the dove bring back the second time it left the ark?
2. Where did Hashem create 70 different languages?
3. When did Noach go inside the ark?
4. What did Noach do to give thanks to Hashem after the flood?
5. What did Hashem place in the sky as a reminder of His promise to never flood the entire earth again?
6. How many pairs of clean animals did Noach bring on the ark?
ANSWERS
A broken piece of an olive tree (leaf)
Tower of Babel
When the waters started to rise
Offer one of every clean animal and bird on an altar
A rainbow
Seven
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