Now You Know!

The animals were influenced by Man, and corrupted their behavior. Not because they intellectually learned to do so, but because the very environment and atmosphere where they existed promoted this wrongful behavior.

There is an important underlying message here, which is sensitivity to our surroundings. The ability to understand nuance and recognize subtle hints lies within us, and should be taken advantage of.

The Gemara in Pesachim (3a) says, ‘R’ Yehoshua ben Levi says, ‘A person should never say something vulgar, for the Torah went out of its way by 8 letters and said, [Noach brought into the ark…] ‘from the animals which were not tahor,’ instead of saying something vulgar.’’

Though elsewhere the Torah uses the word tamei, at least once it used this roundabout reference to teach us how to speak properly, and we are expected to get the subtle message, as R’ Yehoshua ben Levi says.

When Hashem told Noach that he and his wife, and his sons and their wives, should leave the ark, indicating that marital relations would once again be permitted, Noach and his sons still exited the ark separately from their wives. Though it was allowed, they chose to be modest and not advertise something with even a trace of impropriety.

We are built for holiness and purity; let’s not miss the cues and clues for doing so. It is within our reach.