Noaj 5777 - English

By Rabbi Daniel A. Kripper

Beth Israel - Aruba.

From time immemorial until the most recent film Noah, the episode of the Flood and Noah’s Ark has captivated generations and people from all ages.  Children wonder at the gallery of animals that found refuge next to Noah and his family, while grown-ups never cease to be amazed by an emblematic biblical chapter in the evolution of the human species.  

Beyond our sages’ considerations about the character and merits of Noah as a just man, -whether his conduct was irreproachable in the midst of the degradation of his generation or if he would have stood out for his integrity at any other time- without a doubt, his figure grows in the context of a chaotic out of control situation regarding ethics and morality.

It is possible that the different interpretations may all be correct and that they reflect the meaning of Noah’s achievements in his time.  The image of the ship floating on the Flood’s waters, preserving the lives of human beings and animals, reaches new meaning and reverberates in today’s world like never before.  The current concern and anxiety over environment issues and pollution as a result of the loss of balance between human beings and the natural world, represents the universal Flood more as a tremendous warning allegory than a children’s tale. 

Either way, there is a trace of criticism in the rabbinical perception of Noah’s complete righteousness above his contemporaries, and the reason for this is not quite clear. 

Perhaps the key is found in the description of our hero: “Noah walked with God.”  This reference is different from another passage where God tells Abraham: “Walk before Me and be perfect.”  Some commentators have questioned the difference between “walking with God” and “walking before God.”  It would seem these were equivalent. 

One explanation compares it to a king with two sons.  To the youngest he said, “Take my hand and walk with me.”  To the oldest he said, “go before me.”

According to this interpretation, the metaphor refers to two ways in which religion and the relationship to the divine can be seen.  The first shows a life molded by inherited traditions and customs, as a source of strength to feel as if “holding the hand of God.”  These type of people are the ones who preserve the traditional heritage, attracting and embracing many others in their personal ark. 

The other kind are the pioneers of the spiritual world, such as Abraham, in search for new directions, confronting new realities and exploring new religious possibilities.  “Walking before God” could be understood as moving ahead on a path that has not been traversed yet, thereby making use of their intrinsic human freedom. 

Do we not need both types?  Noah, the traditionalist by excellence, and Abraham, the bold progressive?  For in the tension between both of them, lies the secret for a religious philosophy of moderation which our radicalized world seems to need so much. 

Rabbi Daniel Kripper