Noach – Sermonette
Would Noach have coped with the Covid 19 pandemic?
Well he certainly understood the concept of shielding, pulling the drawbridge up in his Divinely inspired Ark and shutting himself away from the deluge that was destroying mankind and other forms of terrestrial life.
Today we would laud Noach as the great scientist with keen predictive and forecasting skills.
Much like the scientists of today he forewarned the generation of the impending doomsday.
The Torah is not explicit on this point, but the Midrash reads between the lines.
The Ark was built over a 120-year period! The current tallest building in the world Burj Khalifa only took six years to build! Why did Noach take so long?
One could argue that Noach was working alone. But still 120 years.! The Midrash explains that this was by Divine design so that Noach would gain the greatest exposure to his generation to hopefully induce his society to repentance and bring them back from the brink of destruction.
Sadly Noach failed on his primary mission to save the world and was only able to save himself, his family and a selection of animals.
The contrast between Noach and todays coronavirus pandemic is stark. In our society we only talk about the science. How many infections? What is the R-rate? What is the best strategy to break transmission of the infection? And of course the current challenge of ensuring we don’t collapse our economy. These are all important questions to answer and deal with but they do not get under the bonnet as to why this is all happening at this time. There is no discussion of the spiritual meanings behind Divinely orchestrated event. What lessons can we draw? And how might we become better people because of this.
Whilst we no longer live in the age of prophecy and are unable to give definitive answers to these questions, Judaism has a long tradition of spiritual and moral introspection on disastrous events. In fact, the lessons should not be too hidden or difficult to reveal as God ultimately wants us to discover meaning in tragedy and grow from it. When an individual suffers then the purpose will be unique to that person, as opposed to a global problem that can teach us universal lessons.
Here are a few thoughts to ponder
We live in a world where the gap between rich and poor, the haves and the have-nots has never been wider and is only increasing. Coronavirus teaches us that humankind is interconnected and intertwined. That even the smallest of actions – such as breathing viral droplets onto a vulnerable person – can have a devastating consequence to their health. We are all responsible for one another.
Corona virus has taught me that scientists don’t have all the answers. In recent decades there has been a trend at least in the media for science to be portrayed in an almost religious like fashion. Science the religion and Scientists its priests. The impression given is that science has substituted religion and should become the sole factor in deciding how we lead our lives.
Corona virus in my view as shattered this view. Don’t get me wrong, science has its place in Judaism. We make a blessing on a great scientist who has discovered the divine wisdom embedded in nature.
As Jews we look at the world from both physical and spiritual perspectives. We listen to the advice a Dr gives us, but we also strengthen ourselves in prayer, Torah and Mitvzot.
Which brings me back to Noach.
Noach’s ark was more than just a protection from the physical flood. It also provided Noach with spiritual protection. We too can enter our own spiritual arks that will provide us the greatest security from the intense uncertainty and fear that is currently plaguing our society.
The Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760) famously explains that the Hebrew word for Ark – Teivah also means a word, which is a reference to Teffilah.
God tells Noach “Come into the Teivah”. Says the Baal Shem Tov: This is a Divine command to each of us to come into the word. Teffilah is more than just reciting a bunch of words. We must enter into the word experiencing its meaning. To truly connect with Hashem the word must enter the deepest layer of our consciousness and touch our souls. This is the deepest level of concentration known in our Jewish literature as Kavvanah. When we connect deeply with our prayers then we are i connected with our True Source. This is what gives us the resilience to deal with whatever “flood” may come our way.
The verse is Song of Songs sums up this idea that nothing can overwhelm us if we remain connected to Hashem
” Vast floods cannot quench love, Nor rivers drown it.” Song of Songs 8:7
May we all merit to deepen our connection to our teffiot during this time so as to build resilience and deepen our faith.
Shabbat Shalom.