Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 4 Cheshvan, 5784
Parsha Noah: (Genesis 6:9- 11:32) 
Fifth Portion: Genesis 9:8-17

Today we are going to read about the rainbow.  I have written many different thoughts over the past two years, but I want to pull out the passage in the Torah and look at it.  Here is the entire Portion (Genesis 9:8-17):

8And God said to Noah and to his sons with him, saying:

9″And I, behold I am setting up My covenant with you and with your seed after you.

10And with every living creature that is with you, among the fowl, among the cattle, and among all the beasts of the earth with you, of all those who came out of the ark, of all the living creatures of the earth.

11And I will establish My covenant with you, and never again will all flesh be cut off by the flood waters, and there will never again be a flood to destroy the earth.”

12And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant, which I am placing between Me and between you, and between every living soul that is with you, for everlasting generations.

13My rainbow I have placed in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Myself and the earth.

14And it shall come to pass, when I cause clouds to come upon the earth, that the rainbow will appear in the cloud.

15And I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and between you and between every living creature among all flesh, and the water will no longer become a flood to destroy all flesh.

16And the rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will see it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and between every living creature among all flesh, which is on the earth.”

17And God said to Noah: “This is the sign of the covenant that I have set up, between Myself and between all flesh that is on the earth.”

A few things.  I’ve written about this in the past about the answer to a question we’ve never really reflected on.

Why?

Why did Hashem give Noah (and us) the rainbow.  I mean we know WHY because Hashem explains the PURPOSE of the rainbow.  But if we were to time travel to that moment? What INSPIRED Hashem to provide the rainbow IN THAT MOMENT?

I mean think about it.  Noah and his family.  Noah trusted Hashem.  Every step of the way.  He saw the wickedness around him.  He still trusted God. God tells him to build an ark; a lifeboat – and Noah does. God tells Noah to get his family on the ark; and Noah goes. Noah survives the flood.  And Noah waits for Hashem to tell him to leave the ark.

So many opportunities for Hashem to give Noah a rainbow. Like – “Hey Noah, I know it’s REALLY weird I am asking you to build an ark right now – so here’s a rainbow to let you know you can trust me.” Or “Hey – I know it’s strange I am telling you to get your family and these animals that just showed up on to the ark right now, so here’s a rainbow to let you know you can trust me.”

But no. Noah trusted God. He didn’t need the rainbow to build the ark. So why? After Noah left the ark, and was given the direction to be “fruitful and multiply” did Hashem THEN provide the rainbow?

Because kids.

Kids.

Noah trusted God when it came to him and the adult members of his family.  His sons had wives. They were older. They were in dire straits looking at the world around them.  But NOW? Hashem was asking Noah to bring MORE life into the world. Hashem was asking Noah to co-create with his wife NEW children.

Until this point, Noah was co-creating with Hashem.  The ark, the animals; it was all Noah and Hashem.  Now, Hashem was asking Noah to co-create with his wife.  And this is where Rashi writes that Noah was scared to have kids.

Noah was likely scared to bring kids into this new world. Not because Noah didn’t trust God. But Noah was scared his kids would turn out wicked and God would kill them again.  He didn’t want kids because he didn’t know what the end result would be.

As a parent of six kids, it is one of the scariest things to experience.  I have shared that when our first child was born, we learned “the first joy of parenting” which is fear.  The moment you find out you are pregnant? You experience a wide range of fears you never knew existed.

Back in the “good ole days” when we found out we were pregnant, we read this book called “What to Expect when expecting.”  I liked to label it “Five million things to be afraid of but never realized you needed to be afraid of!”

Kids are scary. And honestly? If I am honest with myself? It’s because as a father, I am afraid I am going to screw it up. And my kids will require a flood to wipe them out. And it will be my fault.

The rainbow wasn’t just a sign for all of us that Hashem would no longer wipe us off the face of the earth. It is a sign for parents EVERYWHERE – we are safe. We do NOT have to parent out of fear or anxiety. We don’t have to be afraid to co-create with someone a new project or new adventure.  We can trust it’s all going to work out exactly as it should.

THIS is the story of the rainbow.

So a few applications for us to move forward:

• As a parent; where is anxiety and fear driving us with our children? What decisions are we making out of fear instead of love? Where are we not trust our children to become the adults they need to be?
• As a creator; where are we scared to co-create with someone ELSE because we aren’t sure the end result? Might it turn out not the way we desire? Or might it turn out even BETTER? How can we trust and move forward to co-create and do a crazy new project; write that book with someone; take a risk and start a new business with someone?  Start a new friendship or relationship with someone?
• Where are we feeling unsafe in our life? Where do we need to remember the rainbow. That we are safe. Hashem doesn’t have arrows pointed at us waiting to destroy us the moment we make a mistake. Hashem sees these mistakes as arrows upward – Hashem will bear the consequences of our mistakes – and take it like a champ.
• As a parent, our kids will make mistakes – and we will feel every arrow. We can choose to take the arrows and return them with love, kindness, and compassion for our children – or get angry and afraid and send the arrows and daggers back to them. We are safe.  The arrows may hurt – but they are not a danger to us.  We can emotionally regulate and just be. So our kids feel safe making the mistakes they need to in order to grow.

What are your thoughts?

Here is my commentary from the past two years:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 2 Cheshvan, 5783

Oh Tyler from a year ago. If you only knew. The flood was NOT over. But you now find yourself out of the ark, living your best life! And. At the same time, there are still pieces of life that are flooded and are waiting for dry land.

The thoughts a year ago about this portion are really salient. They remind me (us?) that as bad as things get, we are always going to be taken care of. 5782 was a year of learning this trust.

Things happen beyond our control FOR us and not TO us. We can trust. We don’t need to be afraid.

The rainbow is there when times get rough. But we come through it; with trust in the Neshama within – and the trust of the God of the universe. All of us are working together for our good.

Even when someone actively works against us; Hashem uses it for our best. Our Neshama (highest selves) are working things out for us. Trust that today!

What are your thoughts?

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 1 Heshvan, 5782

Today we read about the first rainbow. The Talmud talks about Noah being afraid to have children after coming out of the ark. Hashem saw this, and the Torah indicates Hashem comforted Noah and his fears by making a convenant with Noah. The sign of this covenant was a rainbow.

Nachmanides in the 13th century wrote about how if God had made the rainbow with its ends in the air, it would resemble a giant archery bow looking like it was going to shoot arrows at the earth. Instead it’s flipped, as a sign of peace.

Then, Rabbi Schneerson writes that “Hasidic thought teaches that before the flood, God sustained the world DESPITE its low spiritual standing, due to God’s attribute of kindness. There was a limit….hence the flood.”

He goes on to write “the waters of the Flood we’re not merely a punishment. They purified the works, making physicality in general more refined and spiritually attuned. This ensured that Hashem would always sustain the world; not despite of, but BECAUSE OF its spiritual standing. Even if humans would become corrupt, people would inevitably repent, ensuring that the world itself would have sufficient merits for its continued existence.”

Some thoughts/questions:

1. Noah was afraid to have children. Let’s rewind. Hashem wipes out the entire earth but because you listened to Him, you and your family were saved. And you trusted him enough (maybe it was fear?) to wait to come out of the ark. You followed him and came out of the ark at the proper time. Hashem tells you to be fruitful and multiply and repopulate the earth. You’ve been through all of this, and yet you are STILL afraid? I mean, sounds about right for my experiences. Hashem has been so faithful in our lives (myself and my family) and yet I still don’t completely trust Him. What is Hashem asking me to do that I am still afraid to do?
2. The rainbow. We often think of the rainbow as something fragile, precious. But considering the idea of it being flipped and picturing in my head the idea of a bow and arrow pointed at the earth? That changes my perception a bit. Hashem wasn’t angry with Noah. He wasn’t angry at Noah’s children per se. As a loving parent, he knew His kids and knew what they needed. He provided. How much do we miss this today? I reflect on how my own father and mother shaped my view of who Hashem is. I’ve had to unlearn some things as I read the Torah. I grew up believe the Torah was about Hashem’s harsh judgement – and if I stepped out of line, I’d be struck with a curse, or lightning. But when we actually read the Torah we see how Hashem continues to speak in kindness to the early humans on the earth. Kindness, mercy, and compassion. I don’t think I really equated Hashem with these attributes growing up as a kid. The rainbow is a sign not just of gentleness but of compassion. Hashem had every right to point a bow at the earth and tell Noah “I’m giving you one last chance to get this right- you better teach your kids right! You better do what I tell you! If you don’t? I’m wiping everything out and starting over!” But that is not what happened. Hashem was gentle. “Look I’m making you a promise. A covenant. I won’t ever do that (the flood, wiping out the face of the earth) again. I know you and your children have inside of you a spark that didn’t exist before the flood. You know if things get bad, you can always turn to me and repent; and I will be here to welcome you with open arms!”

That’s pretty flipping amazing! He didn’t promise not to destroy the earth because he stopped caring. He made the promise because he knew we could handle it now. And that our lives had changed.

What floods have I been through that have changed my life? Many.

This past year, many do not know; I have not been employed. I have been through a flood where I watched the world around me sink into a COVID sized hole.

For our family? COVID has been an incredible blessing. The opportunity for me to be home this past year and support the children in remote school, watch Aviyah grow up in a pandemic, learn about being a better father and husband without the stress of working in COVID? It has been amazing.

Before COVID, things were pretty strained with the kids and I. But I have learned my purpose in life with deep meaning. My purpose is my family. My kids. Torah learning. My relationship with Hashem this past year has been deeper than it has ever been. The flood this past year has been eye opening.

And yet? I’m still afraid. For our family the flood has stopped in many ways. It’s time to come out of the ark. It’s time for me to re-enter the work world. And yet? I’m still afraid.

What floods have you been through that changed your life and deepened your spirit? What floods are you coming out of that you need to engage with fear? What floods may be just starting?