Noah: The Eternal Covenant with Humanity
The name of a Torah portion often expresses its content. Yet, at first glance, the name of our portion, Noah, appears to contradict its very essence. The portion deals mostly with devastating events—the Flood that swept the world and the sin and punishment of the Tower of Babel —while its name, Noah, signifies rest and tranquility. How can the name Noah—rest—be assigned to a portion whose entire subject matter is the opposite of rest?
The name Noah teaches us the inner meaning hidden behind those harsh events. While the Flood itself was certainly the opposite of peace and rest, it was precisely through them that true rest was achieved. The Flood purified the earth and created a world infinitely better than the one that preceded it. When Noah emerged from the Ark, he "saw a new world." This was a world elevated in its…
