Noach is criticized for starting a new world by planting grapes instead of wheat. First it says: יֵניֵﬠְבּ ןֵח אָצָמ ַחֹנְוה' ו ח Noach found favor (Chen) in the eyes of Hashem, and only later it says: קיִדַּצ שׁיִא ַחֹנ ו ט Noach was a Tzadik.
Chen means that you are Geshmak and well-liked, and it appears that this should come first in your life. Like a Baal Bitachon who is not necessarily such a Tzaddik; just that Hashem likes him because he is a: תוּכְלַמְל בָרוּקְמ person who is connected with royalty. All the Madregos in Avodas Hashem and Torah and Mitzvos can come later!
Perhaps this is why Noach started with grapes and wine, which are Chen (Geshmak) and Simcha. So many of us would do much better if we would put more effort in becoming happy and Geshmak and having Bitachon; even at the cost of less Torah, Tefila, and Chasadim, etc. Dovid used to split his time: ½ a night learning Torah, and the next ½ singing. But once he was punished when he said: ˃יֶקֻּח יִל וּיָה תוֹרִמְז תהלים קיט נד Your commandments are to me like a (mere) song. Sometimes you have to be less in a Simcha mode, and more in a serious Torah and Mitzvos mode.
While We Need to Balance Simcha with the Proper Seriousness, Simcha Comes FIRST
We end-off last year with reading: ָתְּדַבָﬠ אֹל רֶשֲׁא תַחַתּ בָבֵל בוּטְבוּ הָחְמִשְׂבּ ˃יֶק˄ֱא 'ה תֶאתבא כח מז how all Tzaros in the world come from the lack of Simcha, which caused such a horrific Tochacha. So our Sukkos is total Z’man Simchaseinu, and our Lulavim and Hadasim can’t have thorns, or else it’s missing in: םַﬠוֹנ יֵכְרַד being pleasant and Geshmak. (Gemara).
We start the year with extreme Simcha, Chag HaSukkos Z’man Simchaseinu, and with the Simchas Bais HaSho'eva, which: תַחְמִשׂ הָאָר אֹלֶּשׁ יִמ ויָמָיִּמ הָחְמִשׂ הָאָר אֹל ,הָבֵאוֹשַּׁה תיֵבּ was a Simcha like no other.
Noach is now starting a new world with wine (Simcha). The old world was destroyed because of Gezel and Arayos, and the only way to conquer the Yetzer Hara of Arayos is with Simchas HaTorah. The Rambam brings this, and he brings a Passuk that describes the love a person should have for Torah: דיִמָת הֶגְּשִׁתּ הָּתָבֲהַאְבּ משלי ה יט “be constantly involved in the love of Torah”. הֶגְּשִׁתּ means: ןוֹיָגִשׁ Meshuga, which means becoming Shikor (drunk) and crazy over learning Torah!
Chazal say that Noach learned Torah. This is how he was able to overcome the Yetzer Hara of Arayos. The last K’riyas HaTorah on Yom Kippur is about the danger of Arayos.
The True Ben Torah Is Full of Menucha
Noach means Menucha, and the true Ben Torah is full of Menucha, like it says by Yissochor: בוֹט יִכּ הָחוּנְמ אְרַיַּו ויחי מט טו he chose a life of Menucha, and Rashi says clearly that Noach (Menucha) learned Torah. It is difficult to say that this Tzadik Yesod Olam (who was the foundation of the world, literally, i.e., Noach) upon whom it says: הָיָה םיִמָתּ קיִדַּצ שׁיִא he was a Tzadik Tamim, and: יֵניֵﬠְבּ ןֵח אָצָמ 'ה he found favor in the eyes of Hashem, and: הֶז וּניֵדָי ןוֹבְצִּﬠֵמ וּנֵמֲחַנְי he made life easier for all mankind; should just plant grapes for fun without a much higher motive, i.e., to enhance his Simchas HaTorah.
Make Your Yiddishkeit Beautiful
The Ramban says: ןֵח אָצָמ ַחֹנ means that all his: ַמ ֲﬠ ִשׂםי deeds were: ָנ ִאים וּ ְנ ִﬠ ִמיםי proper and pleasant. הֶז ֵקוּהֵוְנַאְו יִל means that we need to make our Avodas Hashem beautiful and Geshmak. This is a constant job. Especially after such a destructive depressive Mabul, Noach decided to plant grapes first to bring Simcha into the world. And this is the message of Sukkos, like: רָדָה ץֵﬠ יִרְפּ a beautiful Esrog, i.e., make your Yiddishkeit beautiful!
