DISPARAGING COMPLIMENTS

Parashat Noach

Cheshvan 6, 5781 /October 23-4, 2020

Torah: Genesis 6:9-11:32

Haftarah: Isaiah 54:1-55:5

Candle-lighting for Friday: 5:50 PM PDT - Sherman Oaks, CA

This d'var torah is offered in memory of my uncle, Merwin Erenbaum, whose yahrzeit falls on Monday, October 26, corresponding to 8 Cheshvan. Y'hi zikhro liv'rakhah - May his memory be a blessing.

This d'var torah is offered in memory of my zayde, Sam Flom, whose yahrzeit falls on Tuesday, October 27, corresponding to 9 Cheshvan. Y'hi zikhro liv'rakhah - May his memory be a blessing.

Our Refuah Shleimah/Prayer for Healing List  can be found at: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iT0tdp45ITSU6o1tykah41m3IXBxBwLxe8FORSIXzDo/edit?usp=sharing      

If you would like to have a name added or removed from this Prayer for Healing list, please write to me at: ravflom@sbcglobal.net 

This week's Yahrzeit List can be found at: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IvKK6of7m1YFiwWATXCfQXrBrjmLMfS_CAM3WhZ_fu4/edit?usp=sharing 

A list of all of our on-line activities can be found below. All our services and programs are available at: https://www.facebook.com/BnaiHayim 

A list of Zoom links to all our programs and services is available at:  

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1M5jzfligR7kovoXdiEeah3pd2R4fiJi8NHarmrMEEzM/edit 

Some excellent on-line resources are available at: 

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/  
 
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source. 

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DISPARAGING COMPLIMENTS

"These are the generations of Noah - Noah was a righteous man, perfect in his generations; Noah walked with God." Genesis 6:9

 

Rashi: There are those of our rabbis who interpret this (his righteousness) as complimentary, for if he had lived in a generation of righteous people (as opposed to a generation of evil), he would have been even more righteous. And there are those who interpret it as disparaging, for if he had lived in the generation of Abraham, he would have been nothing special (by comparison).

 

As Rashi notes, there are many discussions in rabbinic literature concerning Noah's righteousness. But Rabbi Yaakov Dovid of Amshinov sees a warning in Rashi's comment. He notes that those who understand the Torah as complimenting Noah are referred to as "our rabbis". But those who interpret it as disparaging lose the title of "our rabbis" - they are "others". The reason, he says, is that every person is entitled to the benefit of the doubt. For example, see Leviticus 19:15 - "In righteousness shall you judge your neighbor" and Pirkei Avot 1:6 - "Judge every person on the positive side of the scale."

 

In failing to give Noah the benefit of the doubt, according to Yaakov Dovid, some "lost" the title of rabbi. The term "rabbi" is a title of respect that means "my teacher". In a very real sense, we are all rabbis. We are constantly teaching other people, whether we know it or not. Our children, spouses, parents, friends, co-workers - everyone around us learns from us, and about us, by the words we use to describe others. If you want to be regarded with respect, give others the benefit of the doubt when you speak of them.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom
TBH/CBM
"שתיקה כהודאה דמיא"
"Silence in the face of wrongdoing is consent.”
BT Yevamot 87b
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UPCOMING EVENTS AND OTHER USEFUL INFO! 

Kabbalat Shabbat/Evening Service with Steve Pearlman and Rabbi Flom, this Friday evening at 6:30 pm PDT.
 
Shabbat Morning Service with Steve Pearlman and Rabbi Flom this Saturday at 10:00 am PDT.
 

Downloadable and printable Siddur for Kabbalat Shabbat, Shabbat Ma'ariv, Shabbat/Festival Morning, and more, available at: 
http://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/form-download-e-siddur-0 

You can download both Siddur Sim Shalom and Siddur Lev Shalem at the above link. 

 
David Silon’s class "Jewish DNA? The Science Behind the History, or Vice-Versa" will meets every Sunday at 11:00 am PDT. 

Join us every Tuesday at 12:30 pm PDT for Lunch and Learn, a 60 minute study session. We're learning the weekly haftarah. 

The study materials for the October 27 class, Haftarat Lekh L'kha, can be found at: 

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ehMi-6Yr6BBs4JNBNzHsbeEgKVpcPYZb?usp=sharing 

You can subscribe to the Conservative Yeshivah’s weekly Torah Sparks via email here: 

https://www.conservativeyeshiva.org/torahsparks/ 

Cyber Torah list management (no salesman will call!): 
To subscribe to Cyber Torah, and receive Cyber Torah every week in your mailbox, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net      
Send requests for dedications of Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah, in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net 
To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net