Noach

The passuk states אלה תולדות נח נח איש צדיק תמים…. Rashi explain the words נח איש צדיק that since the Torah mentions Noach it talks about his praise. Rashi brings another explanation, this teaches that the main products of the tzaddik are his good deeds. Both explanations of Rashi understand that the passuk is describing how special Noach and his good deeds were.

Onkelos translates the word צדיק as זכאי, innocent, and תמים as שלם, complete. The Ramban explains זכאי means innocent from punishment. This is as the passuk states והצדיקו את הצדיק והרשיעו את הרשע and they will make innocent the righteous and make liable the rasha. The word תמים means שלם complete, Noach was complete in his righteousness. The first passuk of the parsha teaches that Noach was innocent, complete, and worthy of being saved from the judgment of the dor hamabul!

The passuk ends את האלוקים התהלך נח Noach walked with Hashem, meaning he fulfilled the will of Hashem. By Avraham it states differently, אשר התהלכתי לפניו that which I walked before Him. Why does it state by Noach that he walked with Hashem, whereas by Avraham it states that he walked before Hashem?

Rashi answers that Noach needed a support to assist him, therefore Hashem walked with him, to help direct him on the proper path. However Avraham strengthened himself and went on his own without any assistance. The Sifsei Chachamim explains that Avraham went amongst resha’im and rebuked them to change their ways and to serve Hashem. Since Avraham was a צדיק גמור he was not afraid that he might learn from their bad ways, and therefore did not need assistance and walked before Hashem. However, Noach separated from people so as not to learn from their ways; since he was not such a great tzaddik he went with Hashem alone.

Onkelos translates את האלוקים… differently, Noach went in the fear of Hashem. The Ramban explains that Noach feared Hashem alone, and was constantly attached to Him. He was not persuaded after magic or sorcery, or anything else. The way that Hashem chose or showed him is how he went. The Nefesh HaGer explains that by Avraham it states אשר התהלכתי לפניו which Onkelos translates that I served before Him. Since Avraham was talking about himself describing his own actions, therefore Onkelos translates that I served before Him. Whereas by Noach the passuk praises him about his greatness, he went in the fear of Hashem.

Noach was in a dor in which everyone was corrupt, yet he remained a yarei Shamayim, therefore he deserved to be saved. This is comparable to what Avi Mori said bshem HaRav Agdor Miller zatzal: there may be many people walking in Times Square, if one person is thinking about Hashem, Hashem shines a spotlight on that person and shows affection to him making him unique and different than everyone else.

We are in a world with challenges with our neshamos and our bodies. May Hashem help take the lesson from Noach to fear Hashem, and nothing else, and bring the geulah shelaima amen!