This article was written by Yael Stochel, summer inchworm 2019
GrowTorah Core Value: Tzedakah
Lesson Title: Seeding a Community
In Parshat Noach Hashem tells Noach to build an ark for the upcoming flood. Noach builds an ark and collects all species of animal to preserve during the flood. After the flood Hashem makes a brit with Noach and future humanity with a rainbow as a sign. Noach plants a vineyard and becomes a worker of the land.
(כ) וַיָּ֥חֶל נֹ֖חַ אִ֣ישׁ הָֽאֲדָמָ֑ה וַיִּטַּ֖ע כָּֽרֶם׃
(20) Noah, the tiller of the soil, was the first to plant a vineyard.
GUIDING QUESTIONS:
How does the description of Noach in this verse contrast with his better known reputation in the context of the flood?
- first protecting/saving, now rebuilding
- change in identity
- tilling as a repetition from Bereishit, "To till and tend"
(א) וַיִּטַּע כָּרֶם. זֶה אֶחָד מֵאַרְבָּעָה שֶׁהִתְחִילוּ בְּאַרְבָּעָה דְבָרִים. נֹחַ הִתְחִיל בִּנְטִיעָה, דִּכְתִיב: וַיִּטַּע כָּרֶם.
(1) And he planted a vineyard (Gen. 9:20). Noah was one of four men who introduced four things. Noah introduced planting, as it is written: And he planted a vineyard;
GUIDING QUESTIONS:
How does Noach's role compare with Adam's actions in the Garden of Eden?
- Genesis 2.15 "To till it and tend it", Genesis 1.28 "fill the earth and master it"
What activities that we've done in our own gardens do you think Noach also had to do?
- sowing, planting, weeding, harvesting
Living the Lesson
(א) ויחל נח. אמר שנח נטע כרם לא כדי לשכור ולסבאה, רק מצד שהיה איש האדמה, ר"ל אדון של האדמה שכל האדמה היתה שלו והיה מוטל עליו לעבדה ולהכינה, ונח היה בקי ואומן במלאכת האדמה ונטע כרם לטובת כלל הישוב, שהגפן חשוב וקובע ברכה לעצמו:
It says that Noach planted a vineyard not for the purpose of selling or sustenance, rather because he was a man of the land, which is to say the master of the land because all of the earth was his, and was dependent on him to work it and to prepare it. And Noach was an expert and craftsman in working the land and he planted a vineyard for the benefit of settling the land because grape is important and establishes blessing to itself.
GUIDING QUESTIONS:
What was Noach's intentions in beginning to plant?
-to fill/rebuild the earth; natural inclination; to settle the land
How are we carrying on his legacy in our gardens?
-we are not only planting for selling/sustenance, but for learning and growth
-multiple reasons to plant gardens
-dependent on us to be responsible for the earth
GrowTorah Core Value: Cultivating compassion for all creatures
Lesson Title: Caring for the Animals of the Ark
(21) For your part, take of everything that is eaten and store it away, to serve as food for you and for them.”
GUIDING QUESTIONS:
How did Hashem's instructions to Noach account for the diversity of animals aboard the Ark?
- proper preparation and instructions
Do we see similar preferences of different creatures for certain foods in our gardens?
- birds vs bugs
How is Noach exercising compassion for creatures with his food selection?
- diverse diets leads to healthy and happy animals
- one does not fit all
What does this teach us about proper care and respect towards animals?
- monocropping and corn to farm animals
רב חנא בר ביזנא אמר ליה אליעזר לשם רבא כתיב למשפחותיהם יצאו מן התיבה אתון היכן הויתון א"ל צער גדול היה לנו בתיבה בריה שדרכה להאכילה ביום האכלנוה ביום שדרכה להאכילה בלילה האכלנוה בלילה האי זקיתא לא הוה ידע אבא מה אכלה יומא חד הוה יתיב וקא פאלי רמונא נפל תולעתא מינה אכלה מיכן ואילך הוה גביל לה חיזרא כי מתלע אכלה
Rav Ḥana bar Bizna says: Eliezer, servant of Abraham, said to Shem the Great, son of Noah: It is written: “After their kinds, they emerged from the ark,” indicating that the different types of animals were not intermingled while in the ark. Where were you and what did you do to care for them while they were in the ark? Shem said to him: We experienced great suffering in the ark caring for the animals. Where there was a creature that one typically feeds during the day, we fed it during the day, and where there was a creature that one typically feeds at night, we fed it at night. With regard to that chameleon, my father did not know what it eats. One day, my father was sitting and peeling a pomegranate. A worm fell from it and the chameleon ate it. From that point forward my father would knead bran with water, and when it became overrun with worms, the chameleon would eat it.
GUIDING QUESTIONS:
How did Noach's care for the animals aboard the ark fulfill Hashem's command to him?
- giving the animals multiple option for food for the healthiest diet
- nourishing and caring for the animals, going above and beyond
Living the Lesson
(ג) אָדָם נִכְנָס בַּסְּפִינָה עָמַד עָלָיו סַעַר, אִם יֵשׁ עִמּוֹ בְּהֵמָה וְכֵלִים, מְזָרְקָן לַיָּם וּמְקַיְּמִין אֶת הָאָדָם, שֶׁאֵין מְרַחֲמִין עַל הַבְּהֵמָה וְכֵלִים כְּשֵׁם שֶׁמְּרַחֲמִין עַל הָאָדָם. אֲבָל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כְּשֵׁם שֶׁרַחֲמָיו עַל הָאָדָם, כָּךְ רַחֲמָיו עַל הַבְּהֵמָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְרַחֲמָיו עַל כָּל מַעֲשָׂיו (תהלים קמה, ט). וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר, וַיִּזְכּר אֱלֹהִים אֶת נֹחַ וְגוֹ'.
(3) If a storm should arise after a man boards ship, they hurl the animals and all his possessions into the sea, only the man is saved. Those in charge of the vessel do not have the same concern for the man’s animals and possessions as they have for the man himself, but the Holy One, blessed be He, is as concerned for the beast as for the man, as is said: And His tender mercies are over all His works (Ps. 145:9). Hence, Scripture says: And God remembered Noah and every living thing (Gen. 8:1).
GUIDING QUESTIONS:
In our gardens, how can we emulate Hashem through our consideration for other creatures?
- how do we humanely deal with pests and bugs?
- what are ways to avoid killing bugs in the garden?
GUIDING QUESTIONS
What does this midrash teach us about working within God's boundaries?
How can we make sure to give the garden the nutrients that it needs?