Friday, October 12, 2007

Adrift In Our Very Own Ark

In order to determine if the waters of the flood had sufficiently receded, Noach sends an ambassador out into the world - the dove. When the dove returns with the olive branch - Noach knows it is safe to venture outside.

There are several unexplained points.
1. Even after Noach receives this information he patiently waits for Hashem to release him from the ark and give him permission to leave. So why send the dove ? What would sending the dove accomplish ?
2. Where did the dove get the olive branch ? Weren't the trees destroyed along with the people ?
3. The Ramban, quoting the medrash, actually says that the olive branch came from Gan Eden. According to this medrash - how would this signify dry land to Noach (which was the entire reason the dove was sent out to begin with) ?!?

What was Noach doing in the ark for a year ? Feeding the animals ! Why would Hashem put Noach through all that hard work just to save him from the flood - couldn't he just have sat back on a deck chair and watched the waves ? No ! The time spent in the ark was a personal rehabilitation for Noach - he had to dedicate his time to others to become worthy of being saved.

So how worthy is worthy ? ( i.e. when was Noach's rehabilitation sufficient ? ) When he managed to reverse the process that brought on the flood to begin with.

The generation that was condemned by the flood had "...destroyed the ways of all flesh upon the earth."[Bereshis 6:12] Even the animals were immoral because of the pervasive influence of the corrupt society. In order for Hashem to know that Noach had managed to earn his salvation - he had to influence the animals on the ark to a high level of holiness - the opposite of corruption.

So the purpose of sending out the dove wasn't only to see if the waters had receded - it was to see the reactions and interactions of this bird, that had been positively influenced by Noach for a year, with the new world. When the dove returns with the olive branch, Noach knows that he has been successful in his personal redemption - for no corrupt animal would have returned with a bitter branch that signifies trust in Hashem ( see Rashi Bereishis 8:11 ). And the medrash that says the branch was from Gan Eden is emphasizing how powerful Noach's reformation was - that it reached the levels of perfection in service of Hashem that are only associated with Gan Eden.

And what lesson remains for us ? Every day there people that we influence ( friends, family, etc. ) just by being around them. Are we contributing to their levels of holiness - or chas veshalom, the opposite ? Let us take inspiration from Noach and set to work - not only on our own spiritual achievements, but on the achievements that we can inspire in others.

Hatzlacha !

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