From HaGaon Rav Moshe Sternbuch shlita,
Ravad of Yerushalayim)
Transcribed by Rabbi Daniel Yaakov Travis
Miracles Within Nature
Hashem commanded Noach to build an ark and place within it animals from every species in the world. Noach's ark measured three hundred amos in length, fifty amos wide and thirty amos high. At first glance, this seems like a mammoth structure capable of holding quite a large number of animals.
Yet if we consider just how many kinds of animals had to be saved, it is clear that Hashem performed many miracles in regards to the ark. Chazal tell us that in Asia alone, there are one hundred species of birds similar to the Re'eh. In practical terms, not even a fraction of the world’s animal species could fit into the ark. In addition animals came from all over the world, which was a great miracle.
Outside of the ark, scorching-hot air and boiling water splashing against its sides caused this miraculous vessel no damage at all. While the whole world was swallowed up and destroyed, Noach and his family lived in peace and comfort within the ark. Why did Hashem see fit to perform so many miracles on their behalf?
When Noach left the ark, he found a totally different world from the one he used to know. Before the Flood, Hashem’s Presence was much easier to perceive in the world. But after the waters receded, the forces of nature became a disguise for His Providence.
The time they spent in the ark was designed by Hashem to prepare Noach and his family for the new era that awaited them. During that period, He showed them that nature is completely subjugated to His will. In doing so, He raised their level of perception of the Divine Presence in the physical world, making sure that they would be able to see His hand even after the flood.
So too, before Moshiach comes, Hashem will show us open miracles greater than those that took place when we left Mitzrayim. Even in our days, we have begun to witness them, as the Almighty has protected Eretz Yisrael from enemies who are bent on annihilating us. The purpose of these miracles is to raise our level of perception and to prepare us for the new era we are entering.
Inside the Ark
Noach had to spend a whole year with the animals in the ark. One time when he was late in feeding the animals, the lion bit him and caused a painful wound. Why did someone who the Torah describes as a tzadik tamim, perfectly righteous, deserve this suffering?
The Gemara at the end of Kiddushim describes two types of tzadikim; there is a good tzadik who is serves Hashem and is good to people, and a tzadik who is not good, who only serves the Almighty. Chazal do not mean to say that the tzadik who is not good treats others badly, for then he would not deserve the title of tzadik. Rather he keeps his righteousness to himself, and others do not benefit from it.
The Zohar explains that Noach was a tzadik who was not good. Unlike Avraham Avinu who went out and tried to influence others to serve Hashem, Noach was content being righteous by himself. The Almighty responded to Noach by placing him in a scenario where he would have to serve Hashem alone for a full year, feeding the animals in the ark.
"Make yourself an ark…that has kinim (compartments)." (Bereshis 6,14). The Medrash understands these kinim to be a hint to the bird , also redfered to as kinim, brought by the Metzora. What is the connection between Noach and a Metzora?
Lashon hara often stems from a person’s desire to show others that he is “in the know.” In former times, if a Jew recognized that he did not control his mouth, the Almighty would punish him with tzaraas, which forced him into isolation, away from the rest of the Jewish people. The Torah hopes this would teach him to think before he speaks.
Noach and the metzora shared a solitary fate. However their isolation is beneficial to them. Loneliness taught them that there are other people in the world and they should consider others’ needs while running their own lives.
We find another connection to the Metzora in Parshas Be'aloshecha, relating to the Levi'im. The Torah commands the Levi'im to shave their entire bodies just like the Metzora. Rashi asks: why did the Levi'im have to undergo this process?
Based on the above we can answer Rashi's question. Levi'im were designated for the special role of devoting their lives to serving Hashem through Torah learning and service in the Beis Hamikdash. Klal Yisrael provided them with their physical sustenance, while the Levi'im stood apart and concerned themselves with spiritual matters alone.
To be a member of the Almighty's "special forces" meant that one could not take part in the same daily routines and lifestyle as the rest of the Jewish people. The nature of the Levi'im’s role naturally caused some degree of isolation from the rest of Klal Yisrael. A Levi was the “odd one out” and did not sharing the “normal” experiences of the majority of people.
Hashem hinted to the loneliness that the Levi'im would have to endure by making them undergo a process similar to the Metzora. This should be a message to all bnei Torah today. While we must try and have a positive influence on all of klal Yisrael, a certain degree of isolation from the rest of the world is necessary.
Teshuva and Midos Tovos
The generation of the flood was evil through and through. Theft and immorality were rampant, and humanity had sunk to the deepest depths of corruption. Hashem's patience was wearing thin, but He gave them one last chance to repent.
The Almighty commanded Noach to spend 120 years building his ark, so that other people would see him and abandon their evil ways. The Brisker Rav asked: we know that teshuva helps Klal Yisrael return to the Almighty. Does teshuva in fact help non-Jews as well?
The Brisker Rav answers that although the non-Jews can also benefit from teshuva, there is a major difference. Klal Yisrael are Hashem's chosen nation, and their teshuva is cherished by Him. The Almighty experiences much greater joy when His children come back to Him.
Midos tovos, positive character development, is one of the major themes of Parshas Noach. Rav Chaim Vital asks why the Torah does not spend more time talking about this crucial subject? Shouldn’t it be mentioned in every parsha?
Rav Chaim Vital answers that midos tovos is indeed the central message of the Torah, and if one looks below the surface, one finds that they underpin every mitzvah in the Torah. For example the Torah obligates us to wipe out the Cananim because of their corruption. Midos tovos are the central point in every area of the Torah.
Learning from miracles, influencing others, and positive character development are three crucial concepts that we must gain a deeper understand of from Parshas Noach. As we enter the final phase in history we must keep these fundamental principles in mind. These principles are our tickets to front-row seats for the awe-inspiring miracles that will soon be seen in this world, those of the days of moshiach, which will dwarf those that we experienced when we left Mitzrayim.
(HaRav Shternbuch's shiurim on the parsha are being prepared for publication by Feldheim Publishers as a sefer entitled "Small Prophecies". For information about dedication opportunities contact dytravis@actcom.com.)
