Thoughts that Count for Parshat Noach
And Noah walked with G-d (Gen. 6:9)
Noah himself was a G-d-fearing man, but he did not reprove other people or encourage them to improve their behavior. For that reason, he is termed "perfect in his generation": He was not disliked by his fellow man, as no one really cared how he conducted his personal life - provided he did not make any unpleasant demands on them. (Ketav Sofer)
And the earth was corrupted before G-d (Gen. 6:11)
Only in G-d's eyes was the earth "corrupted," whereas mankind considered the world to be pleasant and good. The members of Noah's generation were perfectly satisfied with the rules they had established to govern their society. (Rabbi Avraham Saba)
Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean (Gen. 7:8)
According to the Talmud, the Torah uses an extra eight letters to describe the non-kosher animals in this manner, rather than portray them negatively as "unclean" or treif. Elsewhere in the Torah, however, such as those verses enumerating which animals we are allowed or forbidden to eat, they are clearly defined as "unclean." The difference is that when it comes to a matter of Jewish law, fancy language is inappropriate. The law must be stated definitively and unequivocally: "This you may do, and this you may not do." (Rishonim)
And they went to Noah into the ark...of all flesh where there is the breath of life (Gen. 7:15)
The G-dly revelation that was manifested in the ark had a profound effect on all the animals, causing them to live together amicably and harmoniously for an entire year. Thus, the conditions in the ark were the prototype and forerunner of the Messianic era, when according to many commentators, the Biblical prophecy of "and the wolf shall live with the lamb" will be fulfilled in the literal sense. (Hitva'aduyot 5743)
Reprinted from the Parshat Noach 5762/2001 edition of L’Chaim.
