This week’s Torah portion is Noach, where God decides to initiate a restart on humanity because of the overwhelming wickedness that has spread across the earth. God chooses Noah, the most righteous individual of the time, his family, as well a pair of each kind of animal to repopulate the earth and asks them to build and board an ark. God then brings a terrible flood to cover the earth and destroy all remaining living things. It’s an apocalyptic-style nightmare and a tragedy for all involved, those who lost their lives, those who didn’t, and even God. So much so that at the end of the story God even regrets the decision and vows to never do this again.
In many ways, it feels like a flood has covered the earth once again. A flood of physical violence, rockets, and terror. But also a flood of evil speech, misinformation, intimidation, and senseless hatred. Though maybe not surprising, it is shocking. And it is hard to know what to do about it, how to stay safe from the storm brewing all around us. There is a temptation to enter an ark and hideout until it is all over. On some level, we need to do this… maybe not until it is all over, but at least periodically. Maybe that means less time on social media, a break from scrolling the news, more time with the people who make us feel safe and secure, or an indulgence of self-care. Whatever your ark looks like, take it. This week’s Torah portion is a reminder that nobody can survive the floodwaters of hate 24/7. At some point, we will drown.
It’s not weak or irresponsible. Stepping back gives us the strength we need to engage. The flood that is surrounding us is not going anywhere anytime soon. In order to take it on, we need to lean on the strength that our arks provide. When Noah emerges from the ark the first thing he does is build an altar to God and offer sacrifices for his well being; gratitude for being alive and for the opportunity to live and build again.
It gives me hope to see this type of resilience and gratitude and can only hope that these stories of love and kindness spread faster than the seas of hate.
