By Rabbi Mordechai Rhine

The Torah begins by stating that G-d created the world. Rashi asks a powerful question. We know that the Torah is not a history book. It is a book of lessons. Why doesn’t the Torah skip the discussion of creation and instead start with mitzvos and lessons of the Torah?

Rashi explains that the account of creation is not intended as a piece of history. It is meant to give us a sense of perspective on current events. Throughout history people go to war saying that the Land of Israel is theirs. Each one screams his claim louder than the next. The Torah comes to remind us that people can claim whatever they want, but the truth is that the land belongs to G-d. He is the one who created it, and He is entitled to give it to the Jewish people as He promised.

I always wondered what Rashi intended by his answer. Did Rashi expect us to go to the Palestinian Authority and say, “Jerusalem belongs to G-d, and He promised it to us. It says so in Rashi!” Did Rashi expect us to take his comments to the UN or to Hamas and expect sympathy? I don’t think it would get us very far. What is the point of telling us facts that would not be meaningful to other people?

I believe that what Rashi is telling us is that we as Jews should know the difference between right and wrong. The purpose of the Torah isn’t to impress or to prove anything to others. The purpose of the Torah is that we should know G-d’s perspective. We should be comfortable with our right to exist. We should know that our claim to the Land is well grounded.

A similar insight is presented in next week’s Torah portion. The Torah states,  “These are the children of Noach…” and instead of immediately telling us the names of his children, the Torah continues by saying, “Noach was a Tzaddik, a righteous person.” Why did the Torah interrupt the comment about Noach’s children to tell us that he was a Tzaddik?

The commentaries explain that at the first mention of Noach’s name it was correct to point out that he was a Tzaddik. Yet, the question remains. There are many righteous people mentioned in Torah. No other Tzaddikim are introduced in this way. Avraham isn’t introduced as, “Avraham was a Tzaddik,” Moshe wasn’t introduced as “Moshe was a Tzaddik.” Why was it necessary to introduce Noach in this way?

Take a moment and picture yourself in the generation of Noach, a generation that was later punished by the Mabul, the Great Flood. Noach is the only one who doesn’t attend the nightclubs of the generation. Noach is the only one who won’t steal… even if no one is looking. Noach is the odd man out. In the eyes of his generation, Noach is a weirdo.

The Torah needed to clarify the Torah view of Noach so that there should be no confusion. Avraham had followers who would listen to him. Moshe had the Jewish people. Noach had no one. He was totally on his own, and the people of his generation who heard his name weren’t sure what to make of him. The moment the Torah mentions his name, it clarifies the Torah view of Noach. Unlike the view of those in his generation, the Torah states, “Noach was a Tzaddik.”

When the Torah tells us that Noach is a Tzaddik, and when the Torah tells us that the land belongs to G-d, the Torah isn’t talking to the people who aren’t going to listen. The Torah in all of its messages, speaks to us, those are interested in its message.

Often in life we yearn to do what’s right, but we sense peer pressure from those who don’t understand what’s important to us. The Torah isn’t speaking to convince them. The Torah speaks to provide us with clarity and confidence to remain committed to the values that we treasure. The whole world can question Noach, but to us he is a hero. There may be people who will question our rights to exist as a nation, but the clarity of G-d as the Creator gives us confidence to carry on.

Sometimes, you may experience the urge to give a sermon to someone who is acting improperly. There may be a way to properly give a sermon to someone else. But remember: Torah is not about sermonizing other people. Primarily, the Torah is a sermon to self, a pep talk to the people who choose to hear its message.

With best wishes for a wonderful Shabbos!