Parashah Pearls
The Torah is extremely careful with every word, never using unnecessary letters. Yet in this week’s parashah, we find a beautiful exception that teaches us an important lesson about the way we speak. When describing the animals that were not pure, the Torah uses the expression “asher einenah tehorah” — “that are not pure” (Bereishis 7:8), rather than simply saying “temeiah” — “impure.” The Gemara (Pesachim 3a) explains that the Torah deliberately added eight letters to avoid using an unpleasant expression, teaching us the importance of refined speech.
Although every letter of the Torah is precious, the Torah goes out of its way to teach us the value of speaking pleasantly. How much more should we be careful with the words we choose when speaking to others! A few carefully chosen words can spare someone embarrassment, soften criticism, or bring warmth and encouragement to another person.
The Torah introduces Noach with the words “eileh toldos Noach” — “These are the offspring of Noach” (Bereishis 6:9). We would naturally expect the Torah to continue by listing his children. Yet instead, it describes Noach as a righteous man. Why is this so?
Rashi, citing the Midrash (Bereishis Rabbah 30:6), explains that the true offspring of the righteous are their good deeds. Just as children carry on a person's legacy, so too, the good deeds we perform leave a lasting impact.
Every mitzvah we perform, every act of kindness we extend, and every word of encouragement we offer creates something precious that remains long after the moment has passed. Sometimes, even the smallest gesture can touch another person's heart and inspire goodness far beyond what we could ever imagine.
Noach's teivah was miraculously able to hold an enormous amount of animals. Noach and his family had the great responsibility of feeding them, to the extent that they didn’t even have time to sleep (Midrash Tanchuma 58:2). Rav Elyah Lopian asks, since Hashem miraculously enabled all the animals able to fit, why didn’t He also make a miracle that they also had all the food they needed? He explains that it is a great principle in the Torah that we should emulate Hashem. As the verse states, "And you should walk in His ways" (Devarim 28:9). In His abundant kindness, Hashem constantly supplies the entire world with food, and sustains everyone with their individual needs. Noach wished to feed all the animals since he desired to do whatever he could to follow in Hashem's ways, the ultimate Sustainer. (Lev Eliyahu Vol.1 p.45)
