Summary

This parasha begins describing Noah as a righteous individual in his generation. All the other people are evil and God decides to destroy them and start all over. God commands Noah to build a vessel – the ark – and to bring seven pairs (male and female) of clean animals and one pair of unclean animals into the ark. This is how all the animals on earth would be saved. He also brings his family, including wife and three sons and their wives on board.

For 40 days a great rain continues,that covers the entire earth, destroying everything except those on the ark. During this period of time Noah sends out birds to find out when the flood waters begin to recede. Once the waters dissipate, Noah and his family occupy the earth to begin a new. God commands Noah to be fruitful and multiply. All living creatures are now available to humans as food. God also declares that murder is forbidden. God promises never to destroy the earth again. This covenant is symbolized by the rainbow.

At one point Noah becomes intoxicated and acts inappropriately. One of his sons, Ham, sees his father and does nothing, while the other sons (Shem and Japheth) rush to help their father. Ham and his descendants are punished by God.

We then read about the story of the Tower of Babel. All the inhabitants of earth speak the same language. They decide to build a tower which would reach to the heavens challenging God. God defeats their plan by making them all speak different languages, and spreads them throughout the earth.

The portion ends with us learning about Terach and how his son Abram and daughter-in-law Sarai, and Abram’s nephew Lot settling in the area called Haran.

Torah Portion in English

9) This is the line of Noah.—Noah was a righteous man; he was blameless in his age; Noah walked with God.— 10) Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11) The earth became corrupt before God; the earth was filled with lawlessness. 12) When God saw how corrupt the earth was, for all flesh had corrupted its ways on earth, 13) God said to Noah, “I have decided to put an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with lawlessness because of them: I am about to destroy them with the earth. 14) Make yourself an ark of gopher wood; make it an ark with compartments, and cover it inside and out with pitch.

Getting to Know my Parasha

What Does my Parasha Say?

1. Why was Noah saved?
2. Why did God decide to destroy the earth?
3. How long did the rain last?
4. What was the breakdown of the clean vs. unclean animals?
5. Was Noah given the chance to save other people?
6. What was the purpose of the rainbow?
7. What were the rules that God commanded Noah after the flood?
8. Why was Ham punished?
9. What was Abram’s father’s name?