1. Shem was the ancestor of Dovid Hamelech, from whom descends Moshiach. The Torah could therefore not list his total years, as Moshiach will live forever. (See Igra D’Chala, Bereishis 11:11).
2. Shabbos Parshas Noach, 5725.
3. תלמידו מורינו שמואל – His student, our teacher Shmuel.
4. In bentching , we say Yaaleh Veya- vo in the brachah of Bonei Yerushalay- im. The reason is that Yaaleh Veyavo is a request, so we say it in a brachah that is also a request (as opposed to the other brachos of bentching, which con- sist of praise and thanks). Since Yaaleh Veyavo in bentching is said in a bra- chah related to Yerushalayim, in Shem- oneh Esrei we also say it in a brachah relating to Yerushalayim—the brachah of Retzei, which discusses the return of the avodah to Yerushalayim. (Shabbos 24a, Tosfos d”h Bevonei Yerushalayim)
5. To avoid transgressing the issur of borer (by removing the bones).
6. Subscribers—people who paid for the sefer in advance, to help the author cover the costs of the printing.
7. Nissan 5744.
8. Moreh Nevuchim, Sefer Hamitz- vos, Pirush Hamishnayos.
9. Hilchos Shecheinim, Hilchos Shut- fin, and more.
10. Arabic.
11. “Until Noach was born, people were born with their hands attached — complete, without separation and difference between fingers. [This was] because they did not need to work the land [with tools;] and Noach was born with separated fingers.” — Yalkut Reuveini There are two interpretations regarding this: 1. That there was literally no discernible separation between fingers. 2. That there was skin connecting the fingers, as chickens have.
12. On Friday night we say: “Zecher lema’ase bereishis — a remembrance for the creation of the world.” What do we have these days that is the same since the world was created and can therefore serve as a remembrance for the world’s creation? Fish. For all other creations of the world changed during the mabul, and only the fish of the sea did not die — because they did not behave immorally. This is why we eat fish at the time when we say, “Zecher lema’ase bereishis.” (See Rashi on Bereishis, 7:22, 6:12, and in Seifsei Chachomim. Source: Mat’amim Hachodosh, entry on fish, os Daled; and see Pri Tzaddik, part 2, 101a.)
13. See Rashi, Bereishis, 5:29, that the root of the name Noach is “menucha — rest,” while the root of the name Menachem is “nachem — comfort.”
