Parshat Noach 5785
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in the first pasuk of this week’s parsha, אלה תולדות נח, נח איש צדיק תמים היה בדורותיו. Rashi asks, if the Torah is teaching us the generations of Noach, why does it first mention he was a Tzadik. Only in the following pasuk does the Torah mention his children. He gives two answers. The first answer is זכר צדיק לברכה; once the Tzadik is mentioned the Torah must first praise him. And only after his virtue is mentioned does the Torah continue with his generations and list his children. But according to this answer, the true Toldos of a person are his children.
The second answer Rashi gives is עיקר תולדותיהם של צדיקים מעשים טובים. The Torah said it was going to list the תולדות of Noach and it did so by mentioning he was a Tzadik. This is because the main legacy and Toldos of a person are his good deeds and the mitzvos he performs. They reflect the essence of a person and the greatest impact he leaves behind in the world. In emphasizing this point, the Medrash quoted by Rashi brings a pasuk from sefer Mishlei (Chapter 11, Pasuk 30), פרי צדיק עץ חיים; the fruits of a Tzadik are that which give him his eternal life. And the fruits of the Tzadik are his good deeds.
The Gemara in Nidah 31A seems to support the first position that the most creative act a person is involved in is having children. The Gemara brings a Braisa which states, שלשה שותפין יש באדם, הקב"ה ואביו ואמו. There are three partners involved in the creation of an individual, Hashem, and the father and the mother. The Braisa continues and describes in detail how the father and mother are responsible for the physical anatomy of the child, while Hashem establishes the spiritual side by giving him his רוח ונשמה. This amazing partnership with the Creator of the world would surely seem to be the most innovative and prolific act one could be involved in. What is the basis of the second position of Rashi that the main Toldos are good deeds? Where is the Divine partnership in good deeds?
The Mishnah in Avos (Chapter 5, Mishnah 1) teaches בעשרה מאמרות נברא העולם; the world was created in ten “speakings”. And the Mishnah continues that this is in order to give reward to the Tzadikim שמקיימין את העולם שנברא בעשרה מאמרות. What is the significance of Hashem creating the world with ten “speakings”, and why is it repeated at the end of the Mishnah that the Tzadikim fulfill the world created בעשרה מאמרות.
The first pasuk in parshat Bechukosai states אם בחוקותי תלכו ואת מצותי תשמרו ועשיתם אותם. If you go in the ways of my Chukim, and keep my mitzvot, and you shall perform them. Rashi famously teaches that it already says keep my mitzvos; what does אם בחוקותי תלכו mean? It means you should be עמלים בתורה; you should work hard in studying Torah. But what does ועשיתם אותם add? The Medrash Rabbah (35,7) learns that the words ועשיתם אותם are to be understood as מעלה אני עליכם כאילו עשיתם את המצוות. I will consider it as if you made the mitzvos yourselves.
The Sfas Emes teaches that just as there is a creative process in having children, there is a creative process in fulfilling mitzvos and doing good deeds. Hashem created the world, and the word for world is עולם, which the Chidushei Harim explains comes from the word העלם, not seen. The presence of Hashem is not apparent, nor is the Torah which is the basis of creation seen or clearly visible. There is a potential for much light and Kedushah in the world, but it is might be actualized and brought into this world.
The way the light of Torah is brought into the world is through the mitzvos and Ma’asim Tovim of the Tzadikim. Just as the father and mother create the body, and Hashem creates the spirit of every child, the Tzadik, by doing the act of the mitzvah, creates the physical form for which the light of the Torah can be expressed. This is the meaning of the Medrash מעלה אני עליכם כאילו עשיתם את המצוה; you are creating the mitzvah by being a partner with Hashem. Hashem commands the mitzvah and the Tzadik creates the physical expression of the mitzvah. This is the כאילו עשיתם את המצוה.
The Mishnah in Avos says that the Tzadikim are מקיימין את העולם שנברא בעשרה מאמרות. The word אמר implies a subtle, soft way of speaking. The presence of Hashem is not apparent in the creation itself. The Tzadikim take the word of Hashem in creation and maintain it by showing His presence in the world through fulfilling mitzvos. The Tzadik concretizes the light in the world by giving it physical form. When Bnei Yisrael received the Torah, they said (Shemos, Chapter 19, Pasuk 8), כל אשר דבר ד' נעשה. We will take the words of Hashem, the D’var Hashem, and do it, i.e. create it. We will give the Dibros of Hashem, the commands of Hashem in the Torah, and give it physical world. We will create the “Guf” for the Neshamah of the Torah.
This is why the second position in Rashi is עיקר תולדותיהם של צדיקים מעשים טובים. The most creative and prolific activity one can be involved in is good deeds and mitzvos. We partner with Hashem here as well, and we maintain the entire physical world by bringing the light of Torah into the world in a way that leaves the greatest impact. The light of Hashem is no longer hidden. We are able to give physical expression to the light of Torah, and this is the most creative act we can possibly do. As Chazal say, it is as if we created the mitzvos themselves, מעלה אני עליכם כאילו עשיתם את המצוה.
Good Shabbos
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