Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, we follow the final generations of the ten generations from Adam to Noach, tracing the lineage through Mesushelach and Lemech down to the birth of Noach and his sons, Shem, Cham, and Yephes. We see the world beginning to slip into deep spiritual decline as the generations multiply and the moral fabric of society starts to unravel.

Lichoira, the Torah is setting the stage for the great flood by showing us the contrast between the growing wickedness of the world and the righteousness of Noach. We learn about the decree of the hundred and twenty years that Hashem gave as a space for teshuvah, and how the corruption eventually reached a point where Hashem, כביכול, regretted creating mankind.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

פָּסוּק א

Pasuk 1

וַיְחִיAnd livedמְתוּשֶׁלַחMethuselahשֶׁבַעsevenוּשְׁמֹנִיםand eightyשָׁנָהyearsוּמְאַתand one hundredשָׁנָהyearsוַיּוֹלֶדand he begotאֶת—לָמֶךְ׃Lamech

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

וַיְחִיAnd livedמְתוּשֶׁלַחMetushelachאַחֲרֵיafterהוֹלִידוֹhis begettingאֶת—לֶמֶךְLemechשְׁתַּיִםtwoוּשְׁמוֹנִיםand eightyשָׁנָהyearsוּשְׁבַעand sevenמֵאוֹתhundredשָׁנָהyearsוַיּוֹלֶדand he begotבָּנִיםsonsוּבָנוֹת׃and daughters

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

וַיִּהְיוּAnd wereכָּלallיְמֵיthe days ofמְתוּשֶׁלַחMetushelachתֵּשַׁעnineוְשִׁשִּׁיםand sixtyשָׁנָהyearsוּתְשַׁעand nineמֵאוֹתhundredשָׁנָהyearsוַיָּמֹת׃and he died

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

וַיְחִיAnd livedלֶמֶךְLamechשְׁתַּיִםtwoוּשְׁמֹנִיםand eightyשָׁנָהyearsוּמְאַתand one hundredשָׁנָהyearsוַיּוֹלֶדand he begotבֵּן׃a son

רַשִׁ״י

ויולדAnd he begotבן.a sonשֶׁמִּמֶּנּוּthat from himנִבְנָהwas builtהָעוֹלָםthe worldבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbah:

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

וַיִּקְרָאAnd he calledאֶת—שְׁמוֹhis nameנֹחַNoachלֵאמֹרsayingזֶהthis oneיְנַחֲמֵנוּwill comfort usמִמַּעֲשֵׂנוּfrom our workוּמֵעִצְּבוֹןand from the toil ofיָדֵינוּour handsמִןfromהָאֲדָמָהthe groundאֲשֶׁרwhichאֵרְרָהּcursed itיְהוָה׃Hashem

רַשִׁ״י

זהThisינחמנו.will comfort usיָנַחwill easeמִמֶּנּוּfrom usאֶת—עִצְּבוֹןthe toil ofיָדֵינוּ.our handsעַדUntilשֶׁלֹּאthat notבָאcameנֹחַNoachלֹאnotהָיָהwas thereלָהֶםto themכְּלֵיtools ofמַחֲרֵשָׁהplowingוְהוּאand heהֵכִיןpreparedלָהֶםfor themוְהָיְתָהand wasהָאָרֶץthe earthמוֹצִיאָהbringing forthקוֹצִיםthornsוְדַרְדַּרִיםand thistlesכְּשֶׁזּוֹרְעִיםwhen they sowedחִטִּים,wheatמִקִּלְלָתוֹfrom the curse ofשֶׁלofאָדָםAdamהָרִאשׁוֹן,the Firstוּבִימֵיand in the days ofנֹחַNoachנָחָה,it restedוְזֶהוּand this isיְנַחֲמֵנוּ,will comfort usוְאִםand ifלֹאnotתְפָרְשֵׁהוּyou explain itכָּךְsoאֵיןthere is noטַעַםmeaning ofהַלָּשׁוֹןthe expressionנוֹפֵלfallingעַלuponהַשֵּׁםthe nameוְאַתָּהand youצָרִיךְwould needלִקְרוֹתto callשְׁמוֹhis nameמְנַחֵם:Menachem

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

וַיְחִיAnd livedלֶמֶךְLamechאַחֲרֵיafterהוֹלִידוֹhis begettingאֶת—נֹחַNoachחָמֵשׁfiveוְתִשְׁעִיםand ninetyשָׁנָהyearsוַחֲמֵשׁand fiveמֵאֹתhundredשָׁנָהyearsוַיּוֹלֶדand he begotבָּנִיםsonsוּבָנוֹת׃and daughters

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

וַיְהִיAnd wereכָּלallיְמֵיthe days ofלֶמֶךְLemechשֶׁבַעsevenוְשִׁבְעִיםand seventyשָׁנָהyearsוּשְׁבַעand sevenמֵאוֹתhundredשָׁנָהyearsוַיָּמֹת׃and he died

פָּסוּק ח

Pasuk 8

וַיְהִיAnd it wasנֹחַNoachבֶּןthe son ofחֲמֵשׁfiveמֵאוֹתhundredשָׁנָהyearsוַיּוֹלֶדand he begotנֹחַNoachאֶת—שֵׁםShemאֶת—חָםChamוְאֶתand —יָפֶת׃Yafeth

רַשִׁ״י

בןA son ofחמשfiveמאותhundredשנה.yearsאָמַרsaidרַבִּיRabbiיוּדָןYudanמַהwhat isטַּעַםthe reasonכָּלallהַדּוֹרוֹתthe generationsהוֹלִידוּbegotלְק'at one hundredשָׁנָהyearsוְזֶהand this oneלַחֲמֵשׁat fiveמֵאוֹת?hundredאָמַרsaidהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy Oneאִםifרְשָׁעִיםwickedהֵםthey areיֹאבְדוּthey will perishבַמַּיִםin the waterוְרַעand it is badלְצַדִּיקfor the righteousזֶה,this oneוְאִםand ifצַדִּיקִיםrighteousהֵםthey areאַטְרִיחַI will troubleעָלָיוupon himלַעֲשׂוֹתto makeתֵּבוֹתarksהַרְבֵּה,manyכָּבַשׁHe withheldאֶת—מַעְיָנוֹhis springוְלֹאand did notהוֹלִידbegetעַדuntilחֲמֵשׁfiveמֵאוֹתhundredשָׁנָה,yearsכְּדֵיin orderשֶׁלֹּאthat notיְהֵאwill beיֶפֶתYefesהַגָּדוֹלthe oldestשֶׁבְּבָנָיוof his sonsרָאוּיfittingלָעֳנָשִׁיןfor punishmentsלִפְנֵיbeforeהַמַּבּוּלthe FloodבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbah,דִּכְתִיבas it is writtenכִּיforהַנַּעַרthe youthבֶּןofמֵאָהone hundredשָׁנָהyearsיָמוּתshall dieישעיהוYeshayahuס"ה65רָאוּיfittingלְעֹנֶשׁfor punishmentלֶעָתִיד,in the futureוְכֵןand soלִפְנֵיbeforeמַתַּןthe giving ofתוֹרָה:Torah

רַשִׁ״י

את—שםShemאת—חםChamואתand —יפת.Yafethוַהֲלֹאbut is it notיֶפֶתYafethהַגָּדוֹלthe eldestהוּא?he wasאֶלָּאratherבַתְּחִלָּהat firstאַתָּהyouדוֹרֵשׁexpoundאֶת—שֶׁהוּאthat he wasצַדִּיקrighteousוְנוֹלַדand was bornכְּשֶׁהוּאwhile he wasמָהוּלcircumcisedוְשֶׁאַבְרָהָםand that Avrahamיָצָאdescendedמִמֶּנּוּfrom himוְכו'etceteraבבראשיתin Bereishisרבה:Rabbah

פָּסוּק ט

Pasuk 9

וַיְהִיAnd it wasכִּיwhenהֵחֵלbeganהָאָדָםmanלָרֹבto multiplyעַלuponפְּנֵיthe face ofהָאֲדָמָהthe earthוּבָנוֹתand daughtersיֻלְּדוּwere bornלָהֶם׃to them

פָּסוּק י

Pasuk 10

וַיִּרְאוּAnd sawבְנֵיthe sons ofהָאֱלֹהִיםthe rulersאֶת—בְּנוֹתthe daughters ofהָאָדָםthe manכִּיthatטֹבֹתgoodהֵנָּהthey wereוַיִּקְחוּand they tookלָהֶםfor themselvesנָשִׁיםwivesמִכֹּלfrom allאֲשֶׁרwhomבָּחָרוּ׃they chose

רַשִׁ״י

בניThe sons ofהאלהים.the rulersבְּנֵיthe sons ofהַשָּׂרִיםthe princesוְהַשּׁוֹפְטִים.and the judgesדָּבָרAnotherאַחֵרexplanationבְּנֵיthe sons ofהָאֱלֹהִים,the angelsהֵםthey areהַשָּׂרִיםthe princesהַהוֹלְכִיםwho goבִּשְׁלִיחוּתוֹon the missionשֶׁלofמָקוֹם,the Omnipresentאַףevenהֵםtheyהָיוּwereמִתְעָרְבִיםinterminglingבָּהֶם;with themכָּלEveryאֱלֹהִיםElohimשֶׁבַּמִּקְרָאthat is in Scriptureלְשׁוֹןis an expression ofמָרוּת,authorityוְזֶהand thisיוֹכִיחַwill prove itוְאַתָּהand youתִּהְיֶהshall beלּוֹto himלֵאלֹהִיםfor a masterשמותShemosד'4,רְאֵהSeeנְתַתִּיךָI have made youאֱלֹהִיםa masterשםthereז'7:

רַשִׁ״י

כיthatטבתfairהנה.they wereאָמַרsaidרַבִּיRabbiיוּדָןYudanטבתtovosכְּתִיב,is writtenכְּשֶׁהָיוּwhen they wouldמְטִיבִיןmake goodאוֹתָהּherמְקֻשֶּׁטֶתadornedלִכָּנֵסto enterלַחֻפָּה,to the canopyהָיָהwouldגָּדוֹלa lordנִכְנָסenterוּבוֹעֲלָהּand cohabit with herתְּחִלָּהfirstבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbah:

רַשִׁ״י

מכלOf allאשרwhomבחרו.they choseאַףevenבְּעוּלַתa married woman ofבַּעַל,a husbandאַףevenהַזָּכָרthe maleוְהַבְּהֵמָה:and the animal

פָּסוּק יא

Pasuk 11

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd saidיְהוָהHashemלֹאnotיָדוֹןshall contendרוּחִיMy spiritבָאָדָםin manלְעֹלָםforeverבְּשַׁגַּםsince alsoהוּאheבָשָׂרis fleshוְהָיוּand shall beיָמָיוhis daysמֵאָהone hundredוְעֶשְׂרִיםand twentyשָׁנָה׃years

רַשִׁ״י

לאNotידוןshall striveרוחיMy spiritבאדם.against manלֹאnotיִתְרַעֵםshall be discontentedוְיָרִיבand striveרוּחִיMy spiritעָלַיwithin Meבִּשְׁבִילbecause ofהָאָדָםman

רַשִׁ״י

לעלם.foreverלְאֹרֶךְfor a length ofיָמִים;daysהִנֵּהbeholdרוּחִיMy spiritנָדוֹןcontendsבְּקִרְבִּיwithin Meאִםwhetherלְהַשְׁחִיתto destroyוְאִםor whetherלְרַחֵם,to show mercyלֹאnotיִהְיֶהshall beמָדוֹןcontentionזֶהthisבְרוּחִיin My spiritלְעוֹלָם,foreverכְּלוֹמַרmeaningלְאֹרֶךְfor a length ofיָמִים:days

רַשִׁ״י

בשגםfor that alsoהואheבשר.is fleshכְּמוֹlikeבְּשֶׁגַּם,because that alsoכְּלוֹמַר,meaning to sayבִּשְׁבִילbecauseשֶׁגַּםthat alsoזֹאתthisבוֹ,is in himשֶׁהוּאthat heבָשָׂרis fleshוְאַףand evenעַל·פִּיthoughכֵןsoאֵינוֹhe is notנִכְנָעsubmissiveלְפָנַי,before Meוּמָהand whatאִםifיִהְיֶהhe wereאֵשׁfireאוֹorדָּבָרa substanceקָשֶׁה?hardכַּיּוֹצֵאsimilarבוֹto itעַדuntilשַׁקַּמְתִּיthat I aroseדְּבוֹרָהDevorahשופטיםShoftimה'chapter 5כְּמוֹlikeשֶׁקַּמְתִּיthat I aroseוְכֵןand soשָׁאַתָּהthat youמְדַבֵּרspeakעִמִּיwith meשםthereו'chapter 6כְּמוֹlikeשֶׁאַתָּה,that youאַףso alsoבְּשַׁגַּםbeshagamכְמוֹis likeבְשֶׁגַּם;beshegam

רַשִׁ״י

והיוAnd shall beימיוhis daysוגו'.etc.עַדuntilק"ךone hundred and twentyשָׁנָהyearsאַאֲרִיךְI will extendלָהֶםto themאַפִּי,My angerוְאִםand ifלֹאnotיָשׁוּבוּthey repentאָבִיאI will bringעֲלֵיהֶםupon themמַבּוּל.a floodוְאִםAnd ifתֹּאמַרyou will sayמִשֶּׁנּוֹלַדfrom when was bornיֶפֶתYefesעַדuntilהַמַּבּוּלthe floodאֵינוֹit is notאֶלָאbutמֵאָהone hundredשָׁנָה,yearsאֵיןthere is noמֻקְדָּםearlierוּמְאֻחָרand laterבַּתּוֹרָהin the TorahפסחיםPesachimו'6b–כְּבָרalreadyהָיְתָהwasהַגְּזֵרָהthe decreeגְּזוּרָהdecreedעֶשְׂרִיםtwentyשָׁנָהyearsקֹדֶםbeforeשֶׁהוֹלִידthat fatheredנֹחַNoachתּוֹלָדוֹת,offspringוְכֵןand soמָצִינוּwe foundבְּסֵדֶרin Sederעוֹלָם.OlamיֵשׁThere areמִדְרְשֵׁיmidrashic explanations ofאַגָּדָהAggadahרַבִּיםmanyבְּלֹאin notיָדוֹן,shall contendאֲבָלbutזֶהthisהוּאisצִחְצוּחַthe clarity ofפְּשׁוּטוֹ:its plain sense

פָּסוּק יב

Pasuk 12

הַנְּפִלִיםThe giantsהָיוּwereבָאָרֶץon the earthבַּיָּמִיםin the daysהָהֵםthoseוְגַםand alsoאַחֲרֵיafterכֵןsoאֲשֶׁרwhenיָבֹאוּcameבְּנֵיthe sons ofהָאֱלֹהִיםthe rulersאֶלuntoבְּנוֹתthe daughters ofהָאָדָםthe manוְיָלְדוּand they boreלָהֶםto themהֵמָּהtheyהַגִּבֹּרִיםthe mighty menאֲשֶׁרwhoמֵעוֹלָםfrom of oldאַנְשֵׁיmen ofהַשֵּׁם׃the renown

רַשִׁ״י

הנפלים.The giantsעַלonשֵׁםaccount ofשֶׁנָּפְלוּthat they fellוְהִפִּילוּand they caused to fallאֶת—הָעוֹלָם,the worldוּבְלָשׁוֹןand in the languageעִבְרִיתHebrewלְשׁוֹןa term ofעֲנָקִיםgiantsהוּא:it is

רַשִׁ״י

בימיםIn the daysההם.thoseבִּימֵיin the days ofדוֹרthe generation ofאֱנוֹשׁEnoshוּבְנֵיand the sons ofקַיִןKayinבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbah:

רַשִׁ״י

וגםAnd alsoאחריafterכן.thatאַףevenעַל·פִּיthoughשֶׁרָאוּthat they sawבְאָבְדָןthe destructionשֶׁלofדּוֹרthe generation ofאֱנוֹשׁ,Enoshשֶׁעָלָהwhen roseאוֹקְיָנוּסthe oceanוְהֵצִיףand floodedשְׁלִישׁa third ofהָעוֹלָםthe worldלֹאnotנִכְנַעhumbled itselfדּוֹרthe generation ofהַמַּבּוּלthe Floodלִלְמֹדto learnמֵהֶם:from them

רַשִׁ״י

אשרwhenיבאו.they came inהָיוּthey wereיוֹלְדוֹתbearingעֲנָקִיםgiantsכְּמוֹתָם:like them

רַשִׁ״י

הגבורים.the mightyלִמְרֹדto rebelבַּמָּקוֹם:against the Omnipresent

רַשִׁ״י

אנשיMen ofהשם.the nameאוֹתָןthoseשֶׁנִּקְּבוּwho were designatedבְשֵׁמוֹתwith namesעִירָדIradמְחוּיָאֵלMechuyaelמְתוּשָׁאֵלMetushaelשֶׁנִּקְּבוּwho were namedעַלuponשֵׁםthe account ofאָבְדָּן,their destructionשֶׁנִּמֹּחוּfor they were wiped outוְהֻתְּשׁוּ.and were torn outדָּבָרAnotherאַחֵרexplanationאַנְשֵׁיmen ofשִׁמָּמוֹן,devastationשֶׁשִּׁמְּמוּwho devastatedאֶת—הָעוֹלָם:the world

פָּסוּק יג

Pasuk 13

וַיַּרְאAnd sawיְהוָהHashemכִּיthatרַבָּהwas greatרָעַתthe wickedness ofהָאָדָםmanבָּאָרֶץon the earthוְכָלand everyיֵצֶרinclination ofמַחְשְׁבֹתthe thoughts ofלִבּוֹhis heartרַקwas onlyרַעevilכָּלallהַיּוֹם׃the day

פָּסוּק יד

Pasuk 14

וַיִּנָּחֶםAnd He regrettedיְהוָהHashemכִּיthatעָשָׂהHe madeאֶת—הָאָדָםmanבָּאָרֶץon the earthוַיִּתְעַצֵּבand He was saddenedאֶלtoלִבּוֹ׃His heart

רַשִׁ״י

וינחםAnd Hashem repentedה'Hashemכיthatעשה.He madeנֶחָמָהA consolationהָיְתָהit wasלְפָנָיוbefore Himשֶׁבְּרָאוֹthat He created himבַתַּחְתּוֹנִים,among the lower beingsשֶׁאִלּוּfor ifהָיָהhe had beenמִןfromהָעֶלְיוֹנִיםthe upper beingsהָיָהhe would haveמַמְרִידָןcaused them to rebelבבראשיתin BereishisרבהRabbah:

רַשִׁ״י

ויתעצב.And He grievedהָאָדָםthe manאֶלtoלִבּוֹHis heartשֶׁלofמָקוֹם,the Omnipresentעָלָהit enteredבְמַחֲשַׁבְתּוֹinto the thoughtשֶׁלofמָקוֹםthe Omnipresentלְהַעֲצִיבוֹ,to punish himזֶהוּthis isתַּרְגוּםthe translation ofאֻנְקְלוֹס.OnkelosדָּבָרAnotherאַחֵרexplanationוַיִּנָּחֶםAnd He repented–נֶהְפְכָהturnedמַחְשַׁבְתּוֹthe thoughtשֶׁלofמָקוֹםthe Omnipresentמִמִּדַּתfrom the attribute ofרַחֲמִיםmercyלְמִדַּתto the attribute ofהַדִּין,justiceעָלָהit aroseבְמַחְשָׁבָהin thoughtלְפָנָיוbefore Himמַהwhatלַּעֲשׂוֹתto doבָּאָדָםwith manשֶׁעָשָׂהwhom He madeבָּאָרֶץ,on the earthוְכֵןand likewiseכָּלeveryלְשׁוֹןexpression ofנִחוּםrepentanceשֶׁבַּמִּקְרָאthat is in Scriptureלְשׁוֹןis an expression ofנִמְלָךְreconsideringמַהwhatלַּעֲשׂוֹת,to doוּבֶןnor the son ofאָדָםmanוְיִתְנֶחָםthat He should reconsiderבמדברBamidbarכ"ג23וְעַלand regardingעֲבָדָיוHis servantsיִתְנֶחָםHe will reconsiderדבריםDevarimל"ב32וַיִּנָּחֶםAnd He reconsideredה'Hashemעַלregardingהָרָעָהthe evilשמותShemosל"ב32נִחַמְתִּיI regretכִּיthatהִמְלַכְתִּיI made kingשמואלShmuelא'1ט"ו15כֻּלָּםall of themלְשׁוֹןare expressions ofמַחֲשָׁבָהthoughtאַחֶרֶתalternativeהֵם:they are

רַשִׁ״י

ויתעצבAnd He grievedאלtoלבו.His heartנִתְאַבֵּלHe mournedעַלoverאָבְדַןthe loss ofמַעֲשֵׂהthe work ofיָדָיו,His handsכְּמוֹlikeנֶעֱצַבgrievedהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingעַלforבְּנוֹhis sonשםthereב'Shmuel IIי"ט19,וְזוֹAnd thisכָתַבְתִּיI wroteלִתְשׁוּבַתfor the refutation ofהַמִּינִיםthe hereticsגּוֹיA non-Jewאֶחָדoneשֶׁשָּׁאַלwho askedאֶת—רַבִּיRabbiיְהוֹשֻׁעַYehoshuaבֶּןson ofקָרְחָה,KorchaאָמַרHe saidלוֹto himאֵיןDo notאַתֶּםyouמוֹדִיםadmitשֶׁהַקָּבָּ"הthat the Holy Oneרוֹאֶהseesאֶת—הַנּוֹלָד?the futureאָמַרHe saidלוֹto himהֵן,YesאָמַרHe saidלוֹto himוְהָאBut beholdכְתִיבit is writtenוַיִּתְעַצֵּבand He grievedאֶלtoלִבּוֹ?His heartאָמַרHe saidלוֹto himנוֹלַדWas bornלְךָto youבֵּןa sonזָכָרmaleמִיָּמֶיךָ?in your daysאָמַרHe saidלוֹto himהֵן,YesאָמַרHe saidלוֹto himוּמֶהAnd whatעָשִׂיתָ?did you doאָמַרHe saidלוֹto himשָׂמַחְתִּיI rejoicedוְשִׂמַּחְתִּיand I made rejoiceאֶת—הַכֹּל,everyoneאָמַרHe saidלוֹto himוְלֹאAnd did notהָיִיתָyouיוֹדֵעַknowשֶׁסּוֹפוֹthat his endלָמוּת?is to dieאָמַרHe saidלוֹto himבִּשְׁעַתAt the time ofחֶדְוָתָאjoyחֶדְוָתָאjoyבִּשְׁעַתat the time ofאֶבְלָאmourningאֶבְלָא,mourningאָמַרHe saidלוֹto himכָּךְSo isמַעֲשֵׂהthe way ofהַקָּבָּ"ה,the Holy Oneאַףevenעַל·פִּיthoughשֶׁגָּלוּיit is revealedלְפָנָיוbefore Himשֶׁסּוֹפָןthat their endלַחֲטוֹאis to sinוּלְאָבְדָןand to perishלֹאHe did notנִמְנַעrefrainמִלְּבָרְאָןfrom creating themבִּשְׁבִילfor the sake ofהַצַּדִּיקִיםthe righteousהָעֲתִידִיםwho are destinedלַעֲמֹדto ariseמֵהֶם:from them

פָּסוּק טו

Pasuk 15

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd He saidיְהוָהHashemאֶמְחֶהI will blot outאֶת—הָאָדָםthe manאֲשֶׁרwhomבָּרָאתִיI createdמֵעַלfrom uponפְּנֵיthe face ofהָאֲדָמָהthe earthמֵאָדָםfrom manעַדtoבְּהֵמָהanimalעַדtoרֶמֶשׂcreeping thingוְעַדand toעוֹףbird ofהַשָּׁמָיִםthe heavensכִּיforנִחַמְתִּיI regretכִּיthatעֲשִׂיתִם׃I made them

רַשִׁ״י

ויאמרAnd He saidה'HashemאמחהI will blot outאת—האדם.the manהוּאheעָפָרis dustוְאָבִיאand I will bringעָלָיוupon himמַיִםwaterוְאֶמְחֶהand I will blotאוֹתוֹ,him outלְכָךְthereforeנֶאֱמַרit is saidלָשׁוֹןan expression ofמִחוּי:wiping

רַשִׁ״י

מאדםFrom manעדtoבהמה.beastאַףevenהֵםtheyהִשְׁחִיתוּcorruptedדַּרְכָּםtheir wayבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbah.דָּבָרAnotherאַחֵרexplanationהַכֹּלEverythingנִבְרָאwas createdבִּשְׁבִילfor the sake ofאָדָםmanוְכֵיוָןand onceשֶׁהוּאthat heכָלֶהperishesמַהwhatצֹּרֶךְneed is thereבְּאֵלּוּ:for these

רַשִׁ״י

כיForנחמתיI have reconsideredכיthatעשיתם.I made themחָשַׁבְתִּיI have thoughtמַהwhatלַּעֲשׂוֹתto doעַלon account ofאֲשֶׁרthatעֲשִׂיתִים:I made them

פָּסוּק טז

Pasuk 16

וְנֹחַAnd Noachמָצָאfoundחֵןfavorבְּעֵינֵיin the eyes ofיְהוָה׃Hashem

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah begins by listing the years and offspring of Mesushelach and Lemech, leading to the birth of Noach, who was named with the hope that he would bring relief from the curse of the ground. As humanity multiplied, the leaders and powerful people corrupted themselves by taking any women they chose, prompting Hashem to decree a limit of one hundred and twenty years before bringing destruction. The Torah describes the rise of the Nephilim and the total corruption of mankind's thoughts, which led Hashem to decide to blot out all of creation—both man and beast—though the aliyah concludes with the comforting note that Noach found favor in the eyes of Hashem.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

The Torah is telling us a beautiful and deep yesod in the name of Noach. Lamech names his son Noach, saying, "This one will provide us relief (yechameinu) from our work and from the toil of our hands, out of the very soil that Hashem placed under a curse." Rashi is immediately bothered by this: how did Lamech know this child would bring relief? Rashi explains that Lamech was a prophet, and he foresaw that Noach would be the one to invent agricultural tools like the plow, easing the painful, cursed labor of the earth.

Think about this for a moment. The world was suffering under a heavy curse, and everyone was struggling just to survive. Yet, Noach did not just accept the difficulty as an unchangeable reality. He used his mind and his hands to build a plow, to bring comfort and relief to his entire generation. He saw a broken world and asked, "How can I make this easier for others?"

This is our avodah as well. We often look at the spiritual or physical struggles around us and think, "This is just the way the world is, there is nothing I can do." But the Torah is teaching us that a single person, by thinking practically about the needs of his generation, can bring yeshua and comfort to everyone. We are here to be like Noach, to find ways to ease the burdens of our families, our neighbors, and our communities.

Today, look for one practical way to ease someone else's burden. Whether it is helping a spouse with a difficult chore, offering a word of encouragement to a struggling friend, or finding a way to streamline a task at work or in the community, be the one who brings "nechama" and relief to those around you.