By Rabbi Yisroel Shusterman
This week’s Parsha
Perspective is dedicated in memory of Elka
bas Zisel OBM
Dedicated in memory
of Leah bas Rochel OBM
Our Torah portion
this week Noach (Bereishis [Genesis] 6:9 -11:32) recounts the famous
story of Noach and the flood.
Noach was saved from
the deluge of destruction that engulfed his world and his greatest contribution
is that he set out to rebuild that world. We don't read about him sitting down
and crying or wringing his hands in despair, although I'm sure he had his
moments. The critical thing the Torah records is that after Noach emerged from
his floating bunker he began the task of rebuilding a shattered world from
scratch. He got busy and picked up the pieces and, slowly but surely, society
was regenerated.
Only one generation
ago, a great flood swept over our world. The Nazi plan was for a Final
Solution. Every Jew on earth was earmarked for destruction and the Nazis were
already planning their Museum of the Extinct Jewish Race. Not one Jew was meant
to survive. So even those of us born after the war are also survivors. Even a
Jewish child born this morning is a survivor -- because according to Hitler's
plan, which tragically nearly succeeded, he or she was not meant to live.
This means that each
of us, like Noach, has a moral duty to rebuild the Jewish world
Our responsibility
is to take up the burden of service, reach out to others and exert ourselves to
the utmost in providing for their spiritual, emotional and financial needs. It
may be difficult, we may well suffer personal damage in pursuit of our holy
charge, but we dare not forsake our purpose.
The
fifth Chabad-Lubavitch Rebbe, Rabbi Sholom Dov Ber, once attended a
conference of rabbis which had been convened by the Russian government in their
effort to ram through massive changes to the traditional Jewish educational
system. At the risk of their lives and liberty, the rabbis worked passionately
and collectively to protect our common heritage.
After the meetings
broke up, Rav Chaim of Brisk came to say farewell to the Rebbe and
discovered him sitting in his hotel room, overcome with tears.
“Lubavitcher Rebbe,”
he exclaimed, “you needn’t weep. You did absolutely everything within your
power!”
“Maybe so. But after
all that, we did not succeed in foiling the plans of the Russian government!”
Thank G-d for His
mercies that our world is, to a large degree, being rebuilt. Miraculously, the
great centers of Jewish learning are flourishing today once more. But far too
many of our brothers and sisters are still outside the circle. Right now there are
hungry people to feed, naked people to clothe and ignorant people to
educate.
Every one of us
needs to participate. We are all Noachs. Let us rebuild our world.
May you have a
meaningful and uplifting Shabbos!
If you would like to
dedicate the weekly Parsha Perspective in honor or memory of a person
or occasion, please contact Rabbi Shusterman at yshusterman@chedermonsey.org
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