With the Jewish Holidays behind us,
we have returned to the mundane. Kids are now in school every day, my wife and
I go to work every day and we all run errands every day. Most important is that
I actually get to read the news and see the news every day. During the three
weeks of Jewish Holidays, I always feel that I am unaware of what is happening
in the world. Sure I am able to find out the sports scores, and if there was
some huge news event, I would hear about it. As news/ political junkie, these
three weeks are really a test in keeping up with what is occurring in the
world. In my home country, the news is
spun in a certain way and as a result people talk past each other and nobody
seems to listen whether it is about containing Ebola, or dealing with ISIS. As
I watch the mayoral race in Toronto unfold, I see excerpts of mayoral debates
and see that the candidates talk past each other rather than discuss issues. In
Israel, sure Israelis talk to each other but there is no discussions between
Israel and it Palestinian counterpart. In fact, Hamas claims that they are
reconstructing some of their damaged tunnel. All the talking past each other or at each
other breeds confusion. Confusion seems to breed fear and once fear sets in,
well that seems to breed some type of paralysis.
This Shabbat we read from Parsha
Noach. This Shabbat we read from Parshat Noach. Comprised of two distinct
narratives; both deal with the theology of chaos and confused boundaries. First
we read the story of Noach, God’s disenchantment with creation and mankind’s
behavior, the instruction to build the Teva (the Ark), the Flood as punishment
for mankind’s unethical behavior, the covenant made between God and Noach and
the resulting offering to God, and then an odd story about Noach’s drunkenness
and one’s sons inappropriate behavior. The second distinct narrative is also
about chaos and confused boundaries. This time mankind confuses boundaries and
trying to build a tower up to the heavens. The result is that God scatters
mankind across the earth by making mankind speak numerous languages and making
communication difficult.
While both narratives can conceivably stand
alone; both narratives are related. As manifested in the previous in the story
of Creation, God is a god of creation and order. Therefore, in order for God to
destroy, order must be removed or chaos must become firmly entrenched. Meivi
et HaMabul Mayim AL HaAretz L’Shacheit Kol Basar Asher Bo Ruach Chayim Mitachat
HaShamayim Kol Asher Ba’Aretz Yigvah – I
will bring the flood of waters upon the earth
to destroy all flesh, in which is the breath of life from under heaven,
and everything that is on earth shall die. Clearly from the text there must
be other kinds of floods besides water, otherwise we do not need to be told
that this particular flood is one that involves water. The message is that God
will punish creation by instituting chaos for a period of time. Later in
Chapter 11 as mankind begins building a tower up to heaven God becomes
disappointed again. Vayomer Adoshem Hain Am Echad V’Safah Achat L’Chulam V’zeh
Hachilam La’Asot V’aAtah Lo Yibatzeir Mei’hem Kol Asher Yazmu La’Asot – Behold the people is one, and they have all
one language; and this they begin to do; and now nothing will be withheld from
them which they have schemed to do. Hava
Neirdah V’Navlah Sham Sfatam Sher lo Yishmu Ish
Sfat Rei’eihu – Come let us go
down and there confound their language, that they may not understand on
another’s speech. Instead of the flood of water, God created the flood of
language and confusion the flood of a cacophony. From now on there will be a different
type of confusion, a confusion of communication between people. No longer be a
confusion between the boundary of God and Mankind.
Thousands of years late we still
struggle with the results of this different type of confusion. However that is
not to say that this confusion in communication cannot be overcome. The only
way to overcome the confusion and cacophony of language is one simple act
-listening. As an action, “listening” is an act that we all struggle with. Individuals
struggle with it, politicians struggle with it, the press struggles with it and
nations struggle with. I know that I struggle with listening. Perhaps the difficulty and the struggle to
listen effectively means that we have to put ourselves and our stuff aside even
before we hear what the other person has to say. However if we can manage
effectively, confusion would diminish and our responses might become more
efficient and effective, both for individuals, communities and countries.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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