We feel like we are living in overwhelming times, with huge forces and processes that are beyond our control: climate change, a frozen (or broken) political system, terror in Israel, a world-wide conflict between liberal democracy and authoritarianism, a profound lack of trust in our basic institutions by a large segment of the population. In the face of so many interlocking problems that seem to be beyond our control it is easy to want to turn away and ignore these many crises.
This is, in a way, the situation Noach is in at the beginning of this week’s Torah portion. The destruction of the world is at hand and God commands him to build an ark to save some of human and animal life to begin the world again. The threats we face are not that simple. The destruction of the world and our institutions are not a certainty. But, like Noach we have the opportunity to do something to save our world. But we can’t do that if we turn away, no matter how overwhelming the problems we face seem to be.
Our sages taught us a basic truth about the importance of human action., “Rabbi Tarfon used to say: It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it.” (Pirkei Avot 2:16) Judaism is ultimately an optimistic religious practice that reminds us that our choices and our actions matter. If we want to make the world better we must act to make it so, just like Noach.
Noach, Genesis 6:9-11:32, Parashat Hashavua for October 21, 2023
October 19, 2023 by Dean Kertesz • Drashot
We feel like we are living in overwhelming times, with huge forces and processes that are beyond our control: climate change, a frozen (or broken) political system, terror in Israel, a world-wide conflict between liberal democracy and authoritarianism, a profound lack of trust in our basic institutions by a large segment of the population. In the face of so many interlocking problems that seem to be beyond our control it is easy to want to turn away and ignore these many crises.
This is, in a way, the situation Noach is in at the beginning of this week’s Torah portion. The destruction of the world is at hand and God commands him to build an ark to save some of human and animal life to begin the world again. The threats we face are not that simple. The destruction of the world and our institutions are not a certainty. But, like Noach we have the opportunity to do something to save our world. But we can’t do that if we turn away, no matter how overwhelming the problems we face seem to be.
Our sages taught us a basic truth about the importance of human action., “Rabbi Tarfon used to say: It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it.” (Pirkei Avot 2:16) Judaism is ultimately an optimistic religious practice that reminds us that our choices and our actions matter. If we want to make the world better we must act to make it so, just like Noach.