Parashat Noach - for Intro to Judaism

(5) When the Eternal saw how great was the wickedness of human beings on the earth, that the direction of their thoughts was nothing but wicked all the time, (6) the Eternal regretted having made human beings on earth, and was heartsick. (7) So, the Eternal thought: “I will wipe the humans whom I created from off the face of the earth - the humans [and with them] the beasts, the reptiles, the birds of the sky - for I rue the day I made them.” (8) But Noah found favor in the Eternal's sight.

(9) This is Noah's chronicle.—Noah was a righteous man; in his generation, he was above reproach; Noah walked with God.

(1) NOAH WAS A RIGHTEOUS MAN — Since the text mentions him it sings his praise, in accordance with what is said, (Proverbs 10:7) “The mention of the righteous shall be for a blessing.” Another explanation is: since after stating “This is Noah's chronicle,” it does not at once mention the names of his children but declares that he “was a righteous man;” the text thereby teaches us that the real progeny of righteous people are their good deeds (Genesis Rabbah 30:6). (2) IN HIS GENERATION — Some of Rabbis explain (this word) to his credit: he was righteous even in his generation; it follows that had he lived in a generation of righteous people he would have been even more righteous owing to the force of good example. Others, however, explain it to his discredit: in comparison with his own generation he was accounted righteous, but had he lived in the generation of Abraham he would have been accounted as of no importance (cf. Sanhedrin 108a). (3) NOAH WALKED WITH GOD — In the case of Abraham, the Torah says, (Genesis 24:40) ‘‘[God] before whom I walked.” Noah needed God’s support to uphold him in righteousness whereas Abraham drew his moral strength from himself and walked in his righteousness by his own effort (Genesis Rabbah 30:10).