TORAH PORTION
11 "'••••"'""
Character Flaw:
Confined Judaism
RABBI MORTON F. YOLKUT
Special to The Jewish News
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as Noah a great
man for all genera-
tions, or was he real-
ly quite a mediocre man who
was considered righteous
because he lived in the midst
of a corrupt society? The
Torah, very complimentary in
its description of Noah, said of
him: "Noah was a righteous
man; he was upright in his
generation." (Genesis 6:9).
The Talmud commenting
on this, suggests that the
word b'dorotav — in his
generation — is superfluous.
The Torah could easily have
omitted it. It could have simp-
ly stated: "Noah was a
righteous and upright man."
Why "in his generation?"
Why the qualification?
It was this word that
precipitated a famous debate
between two great rabbinic
personalities. One rabbi, Resh
Lakish, interprets this verse
l'shevach, as a compliment to
Noah. If Noah was righteous
in his evil generation, he
would have been even greater
in a righteous generation.
But Rabbi Yochanan
disagrees. He interprets this
verse l'genai, as an insult to
Noah. If Noah had lived in
Abraham's generation,
nobody would even have
noticed him. (Talmud, San-
dhedrin 108a).
The question that must be
asked is what prompted Rab-
bi Yochanan to reject the
biblical text and offer a
characterization of Noah that
is diametrically opposed to
that which is clearly stated in
the Torah? Why the need to
interpret this verse to Noah's
discredit?
I suggest that this sage had
reservations about Noah's
character because of one
serious character flaw: Noah's
failure to stand up for the peo-
ple of his generation. The
Almighty informs Noah of
His deep dissatisfaction with
the way the people were con-
ducting their affairs and of
His intention to destroy the
world. He further commands
Noah to construct an ark in
which he and his family will
be spared.
What is Noah's reaction to
this startling revelation?
Does Noah stand up for his
contemporaries? Do we hear
any protests from Noah
against God's decision? Does
he intervene on behalf of his
Morton Yolkut is rabbi of
Congregation B'nai David.
generation? Does he plead for
mercy and compassion? Not
at all — he simply proceeds to
build an ark as he was com-
manded. He is saved but his
entire generation is
destroyed.
Noah refused to accept any
responsibility for the evil
deeds of his times. He is the
typical isolationist who is
prepared to let the world go to
ruin as long as his own per-
sonal safety and that of his
loved ones is assured.
Contrast this with the con-
cern and compassion
Abraham later demonstrated
in his eloquent defense of the
wicked city of Sodom. When
God informed him of the im-
minent destruction of Sodom,
Abraham pleaded, entreated,
even "bargained" for the lives
of people who were the very
personification of evil. In con-
trast to such eagerness and
unselfishness, Noah must
pale; and his example of
Shabbat Noah
Genesis 6:9-11:32
Isaiah 54:1655:5-
righteousness is subject to
skepticism.
Isolationism is an unaccep-
table position in life and par-
ticularly in religion. Unfor-
tunately, we have far too
many religious isolationists
today for our own good. There
are many whose personal pie-
ty is beyond question, but
who leave no imprint on those
around them. We often see a
parent who is content to live
out his years as a faithful Jew,
but is not concerned with the
attrition of his children from
the traditions and practices of
our faith. There are those
who are content in "making
Shabbat for themselves" and
not concerned about sharing
its joy and spirituality with
others. Legion are the ex-
amples of such religious isola-
tionists and the genuineness
of their faith is open to
question.
Judaism cannot and should
not be confined. In its essence,
it is an all-embracing
philosophy of life, asking us to
reach out and draw toward us
all who come within our
sphere of influence. It is this
quality which Noah lacked
and which Abraham so
thoroughly possessed, that we
must seek to emulate in our
generation. ❑