Rabbi Frand on Parshas Noach
These divrei Torah were adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher
Frand's Commuter Chavrusah Tapes on the weekly portion: Tape # 389, Abortion
To Save A Baby? Good Shabbos
A Treifah Olive Branch?
I saw an interesting insight in the sefer [book] Mikdash Mordechai. The
Torah says that an olive branch was torn off in the mouth of the dove (taraf
b'phee-ha) [Bereshis 8:11]. This is an interesting use of the verb 'taraf'
[to tear]. Normally, 'taraf' is used in connection with something which has
been killed, usually violently [as in Bereshis 37:33, by Yosef]. For
example, the primary definition of 'treifah' is a living animal that was
torn apart in the field.
It is peculiar to refer to an olive branch as being killed. The Torah is
certainly not saying that ripping off an olive branch is murder.
The Mikdash Mordechai comments that when a person has seen the destruction
that Noach witnessed -- all forms of life had been erased from the world --
he attaches a new importance to even the smallest form of life.
Therefore, an olive branch that has been ripped off from its source is not
just dismissed as a few leaves that fell off of a tree. It becomes something
very precious. We know what happened to all forms of life. Human, animal and
plant life had all been killed. A person who has seen total destruction
gains a new appreciation for all forms of life.
As such, Noach viewed the olive branch as if it had been "killed" by the
dove, ripping it off the tree.
Miracles Can Happen Slowly
Rav Shimon Schwab (in his sefer) makes the following assumption. If water
covered the entire earth such that the highest mountains were totally
submerged, we should expect that the time it would take for the water to
recede or evaporate until the land became dry again would be far longer than
the several week period that the Torah outlines in the narration in Parshas
Noach [Bereshis 8:6-14].
By the rules of physics and nature, the length of time that it should take
for that much water to recede should have been years, rather than days or
weeks. The whole world was flooded and saturated with water. The only way
the waters could have receded and the earth dried out in the short period
described by the Torah is through a miracle.
But if we come to the conclusion that the removal of those many hundreds of
millions of gallons of water happened miraculously, then why was it
necessary for the miracle to "take so long"? Why did Noach need to send out
the raven and the dove? Why did he need to wait one week then another week?
Why was it necessary to stay in the Ark for so many more days after the dove
did not fly back?
When G-d decided that the Flood should cease and the land should become dry,
why did the flood not then cease and the land become dry instantaneously? If
G-d is making a miracle anyhow, why didn't He make it a little more dramatic
and spare Noach the waiting time?
Rav Schwab suggests that the Torah is teaching that it is often necessary to
be patient when waiting for G-d's salvation in life. It is very difficult
for modern day man to adjust to this idea. For us, everything must be
instantaneous. When we want to warm something up, we stick it in the
microwave oven for 25 seconds. When we want a hot cup of coffee, we go to
the sink and turn on the "instant hot". Everything that we have today comes
without waiting. "You want to see a document?" "Fax it or e-mail it." As a
last resort, send it 'Overnight express.'
G-d does not work like that. The salvation may be here already. G-d may
have already decided to end the Flood. But the relief might not happen right
away.
The Talmud states [Berachos 55a] that one who prays to G-d and then
investigates to see whether his prayers have been immediately answered is
destined to be disappointed (bah l'yedei k'ev lev).
A person may pray that he find a job or that he be accepted into a certain
school. Then, he may run to the mail box to see if the acceptance letter
arrived.
A person may have a disease or an illness. He may pray for a recovery. He
may go to the doctor and receive treatment for his condition. He may be
convinced that the treatment will cure him now.
It does not happen like that. We need an "And he waited seven more days..."
and also "And he waited seven more days..." [Bereshis 8:10,12]. Sometimes
patience is necessary. It does not happen instantly.
At the end of Parshas Shmos, Moshe complained to G-d "Why have you made
matters worse for this nation? Why have you sent me? From the time that I
came to Pharoah, he has been worse to this nation and you have not yet saved
your people." [Shmos 5:22-23].
Moshe complained that the magic words 'Let my people go' did not work. Not
only did Pharoah not let them go, it aggravated him and made matters worse
for the people.
G-d responded to Moshe, "NOW you will see what I will do to Pharoah and he
will send out My people" [Shmos 6:1].
The Gemarah interprets "Now you will see what I will do to Pharoah, but you
will not see what I will do to the 31 Kings when Israel enters the Land of
Canaan" [Sanhedrin 111a]. This was an aspect of Moshe's punishment of not
being permitted to enter Eretz Yisroel - as a result of not having patience
and for "second guessing," as it were, the instructions of G-d.
What is the "measure for measure" justice of this punishment? It took 14
years to settle the Land of Israel. There were 7 years of conquest and 7
years of division. It did not come instantly. Moshe Rabbeinu - who, of
course, because of his greatness he was held to a higher standard --
demanded something of G-d which was not in accordance with the way G-d
conducts Himself. G-d does not provide instant results. It takes time. This
is the lesson of "Noach waited." He did not say "the rains stopped, let us
leave the Ark." Salvation takes time, it does not happen instantly.
Sometimes we leave the Yomim Noraim [High Holidays] and we expect instant
changes from G-d. We prayed intently. This is a new year. There has been new
judgment. All my problems should be solved now. We expect our troubles to
have all dissipated by the day after Yom Kippur. "I davened well. I felt
that You answered me. Nu?"
Noach had to wait. Noach had to anticipate. The flood was over, but it took
time. This is how G-d works. Salvation does not always happen
instantaneously. This is a lesson that modern day man needs to learn.
This write-up was adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher
Frand's Commuter Chavrusah Torah Tape series on the weekly Torah portion.
The complete list of halachic topics covered in this series for Parshas
Noach are provided below:
Also Available: Mesorah / Artscroll has published a collection
of Rabbi Frand's essays. The book is entitled:
and is available through your local Hebrew book store or from
Project Genesis, 1-410-654-1799.
