Chasidic Insights

CHASIDIC INSIGHTS PARSHAS NOACH 5764 BS"D

Ch. 6, v. 9: "B'dorosov" - Rashi first mentions a complimentary insight and then a pejorative one. Why indeed does Rashi mention the negative interpretation at all? A great service has been done by mentioning that there are those who look upon the tzadik negatively. This teaches us that in future generations, one can be a true tzadik just as the Torah testifies regarding Noach, even though he is criticized by some. This in no way diminishes the fact that he is a true tzadik. (Shpoler Zeida in Tiferes Mahara"l)

Ch. 6, v. 11: "Vatishocheis ho'oretz lifnei ho'Elokim" - And the earth was destroyed, "vatishocheis," because the people gave priority to physical matters over Elokim, "ho'oretz lifnei ho'Elokim." (The Holy Admor of Kotzk)

Ch. 6, v. 11: "Chomos" - There was great impurity generated by the sins of the "dor hamabul." This strengthened the powers of the "sitroh acharoh" (the negative side). It is represented by the name of its angels, S-a-m-o-e-l, and N-o-ch-o-sh, Samach-Mem-Aleph-Lamed-Nun-Ches-SHin. This had to be countered by Noach's building the ark. Its dimensions were 300 long, 50 wide, 30 tall, and 1 flat on top. These four dimensions negate four letters of the names of the "sitroh acharoh," as 300 = Shin, 50 = Nun, 30 = Lamed, and 1 = Aleph. However, we are still left with the letters Ches-Mem-Samach, which spell "CHoMoS" which have not been neutralized. (Reb Leib Soroh's)

Ch. 6, v. 13: "Ki moloh ho'oretz chomos" - The word "HeChoChoM," spelled Hei-Ches-Chof-Mem, should represent the embodiment of the verse "Chilu Milfonov Kol Ho'oretz" (Divrei Hayomim 1:16:30), whose first letters spell out "HeChoChoM." But the generation of the great deluge acted as if "HeChoChoM" stood for the first letters of "Ki Moloh Ho'oretz Chomos." (Rabbi Chaim of Krasna, a student of the Holy Baal Shem Tov)

Ch. 7, v. 17: "Vatorom mei'al ho'oretz" - Once Noach and his family were safely in the ark and Hashem destroyed the inhabitants of the earth with 40 days and nights of rain, the ark was elevated and separated from earthiness. (Rabbi Osher of Stolin in Beis Aharon)

Ch. 7, v. 19: "V'hamayim govru m'ode m'ode al ho'oretz " - Just as a person is purified through totally immersing in a mikveh, so too, the earth was cleansed of the impurity of sin brought on by its inhabitants through being totally immersed in the waters of the great deluge. (Rabbi Dov Ber of Lubavitch)

Ch. 7, v. 23: "Va'yimach es" - Just as the world was created through the 22 letters of the Alef-Beif, from Alef through Tof, alluded to in the first verse of the Torah, "Breishis borro Elokim EiS," so too, when the world needed a complete make-over, "va'yimach ES," all was erased, from Alef through Tof. (Rabbi Zvi Elimelech of Dinov in Agra D'kaloh)

Ch. 8, v. 8: "Va'yishlach es ha'yonoh" - This alludes to the bnei Yisroel's future. The bnei Yisroel are equated to a dove (see gemara Shabbos 49a). They will be sent into exile. (Rabbi Moshe of Pshevorsk in Ohr Pnei Moshe)

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