Boulder Jewish News Arts, Culture, Events, Lifestyles, Holidays, Synagogues, Education
In this week’s Torah portion, we learn about how the world was full of sin and therefore, G-d decided to destroy the world via a flood and would save Noah and his family who were righteous.
The commentaries teach us that the purpose of the flood was not only to destroy the world but, also to purify the world, since the water of the flood acted as a Mikvah, a purifying pool of water in which a person who is impure can immerse himself and become pure. This is why the Midrash teaches that when Noah left the ark, he saw a new world, since the world had been changed and purified via the flood.
There is a connection between the portion and the time of year, it is read. The portion of Noah is read after the High Holiday season, which also acts as a Mikvah of purifying waters. Just as Noah saw a new world after the flood so too, when we go back to our daily routine after this season, we can expect to find a new and uplifted world.
