The number 40
Written by Daniel Fine
We know the story; Noach builds an ark and thus survives the flood. (it’s v interesting that they have found loads of archaeological evidence as proof that this happened btw; from bones to cave scratching, etc.) Anyway, just a small point; the flood lasts for 40 days. Why 40? the Maharal notes that 40 represents a new creation; thus, Moshe went up to har sinai to receive the Torah for 40 days – the giving of the Torah was a new creation in mankind. And there are 40 days from Rosh Chodesh Elul until end of Yom Kippur too; for that is supposed to be the time when we individually recreate ourselves and our lives. So too, when bringing a flood to the world that was to mark a new creation, 40 was the number of days it spanned.
Humor
Where were the Egyptians during the flood?
In de-nile
What does a cyclone, flood, fire and a woman have in common?
Sooner or later one of them will get your house....
A man who lived by the sea grew a cucumber so large he was able to turn it into his house. One day a bad storm flooded the area with seawater and damged his home.
Now he’s in a pickle.
Two retired business men sitting on a beach.
Mike: Nice to meet you. I'm a retired businessman. When my store burned down, rather than rebuilding I took the insurance money and retired here.
John: You know, I'm a retired businessman, too. When a flood washed away my store I took the insurance money and retired here, too.
Mike is silent for a while then he asks John, "How do you start a flood?"
