A Taste of Shabbos: Parashat Noach

There are many kinds of floods in the world. The sages say that the flood in Noah’s time was meant to be a flood of wisdom on earth- perhaps like the flood of information in this technological age. However, because of the moral corruption of humanity in that era, the flood turned to what I would call, ‘acid rain,’ where the information- perhaps as in these days too- was misused for personal gain, pleasure, power, and eventual corruption. G-d told Noah, the most righteous person around, to build an ark, and to place in it a light.

The Baal Shem tov, the founder of the Hassidic movement, has a famous comment about the ark and the light. In Hebrew, the word ‘ark’ is Teivah, which also means ‘word.’ He says that G-d is telling all of us that when we are surrounded by dangerous flood waters, we need to build and enter our home of words of Torah, prayers, and kindness. Furthermore, we need to infuse these words with lights of conviction, sincerity, and dedication to a higher purpose.

Shabbat day can actually be considered our Ark of protection and illumination from the stresses, distractions, and temptations from the six days of the week. We give both our souls and our bodies- our animal nature- not only a time to relax but also a time to re-Jew-vinate our lives. We are taught that the world was created to last only for six days, and it is in merit of the Sabbath that our ‘contract is renewed’ for the next six days. When Adam and Chava sinned by eating from the Tree of Knowledge three hours before sunset on Friday, G-d was about to banish them from the Garden of Eden immediately, but the spirit of Shabbos intervened and they were given a night and a day of reprieve to remain close to G-d. In fact each day of creation had a counterpart- the light of the first day had the heavenly bodies of Wednesday as a counterpart etc. Only Shabbos had no partner, till G-d told the Shabbos spirit, the Jewish people will be your partner. They will honor you in all kinds of ways, and with holy words in particular.

Just as G-d’s first words were, ‘Let there be light,’ the very first act to bring in the sanctity of Shabbos is the kindling of lights. The blessing recited has the power of a biblical commandment even though it was ordained by the sages. Traditionally it is the woman who lights the candles with a blessing. When she does so, say the mystics, she is repairing the darkness brought into the world with the transgression of eating from the forbidden tree. If she concentrates fully on the lighting and the blessing, she may sense the prophetic nature of that moment. Many women throughout history have been known to invest an abundance of both time and tears during those precious moments that usher in the Shabbat Kodesh, the holy Sabbath! May we all illuminate the ark of our words and homes each week!