This week we read one of the most well-known Torah passages: the story of the flood and Noah’s ark.

The Torah tells us that Noah and his family were saved because he was a just, and upright man. But a question arises: What did Noah do that distinguished him from all others, thus deserving salvation?

Our sages explain that Noah was not only righteous before God by faithfully fulfilling God’s commandments and precepts, but he was also noted for his kindness and his treatment of other human beings.

Noah was kind, cordial, and generous with his fellow human beings. His justice was not limited to the ritual and halachic realm, but was reflected in his daily behavior, his willingness to help, his manner of speaking, and his respect for others.

This attitude of benevolence and love toward his neighbor was what made the difference and earned him the merit of being saved from the flood.

There are people who can be very strict in observing the law, but their rigidity leads to conflict, arguments, and separation.

A person who observes the precepts but lacks kindness, empathy, and compassion may be fulfilling the letter of the law, but not its spirit. And if he had lived during the time of the flood, the sages teach, such rigidity without humanity would not have been enough to save him.

We could imagine Noah as someone walking in heavy rain with a large umbrella. Instead of using it only to cover himself, he opens it wide enough to also protect others around him.

This is true justice: not only protecting oneself from the “flood” of life but helping to cover others with the same umbrella. This image represents the essence of the teaching. God loves, blesses, and grants merit to those who are understanding, helpful, attentive, generous, and respectful of their neighbors.

The final purpose of studying the Torah is to shape our characters to be a real good human being.  The first step is to learn how to look at others with kindness.

Let’s follow Noah’s example: build our own “ark,” not of wood, but of respect, empathy, good deeds, kind words, and gestures of love toward our neighbor.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Refael Cohen