Spiritual Audacity (NOACH)

By RABBI DAVID POLSKY, Congregation Anshe S’Fard

We would expect the person chosen by God to rebuild humanity would be incredibly righteous. Indeed, the Torah itself states at the beginning of this week’s portion that Noah was the most righteous man of his generation (Genesis 6:9). Yet, the medieval biblical commentator Rashi argues that Noah was lacking in faith (commentary to Genesis 7:6).

Rabbi Levi Isaac of Berditchev, the chasidic master and author of Kedushat Levi, explains that Noah did not lack faith in God but rather in himself. In contrast to Abraham, who argued with God over the fate of Sodom (Genesis 18:23-33), Noah believed that he had no right to dispute God’s verdict. He also never tried to influence or save those of his generation, reasoning that, if God would save him, He would save others as well. If Noah exhibited greater spiritual audacity like his descendent Abraham, he would have been as great. He may not have saved the world, but he would have been a true man of faith.