It is really puzzling how the dor hamabul (the generation of the flood) stooped so low, that the entire world had to be destroyed due to their wicked ways. What caused them to become so wicked? Chazal explains that they were steeped in theft, adultery and idolatry. Let us explore the underlying cause for these sins. Rashi (Koheles 8:15) explains that these acts result from not being happy with what one has, sameach bechelko (one who is happy with what they have). They were not appreciative with all the goodness which Hashem gave them and therefore stole and were involved in adultery. This is echoed by a teaching of Chazal (Sanhedrin 108a) who explains that their wicked behavior was due to the fact that they received so much good yet were haughty and didn’t appreciate it.
In contrast, Noach knew that Hashem had given him everything he needed. He epitomized the quality of sameach bechelko and felt no need to be envious of others, desiring what they have. This mentality is what led him to be a tzadik and wholesome, not following in the ways of his counterparts, as we are told ‘and Noach was a tzadik, wholesome in his generation.’ The trait of temimus, wholesomeness, includes being happy with what one has. As the Torah teaches ‘wholesome should you be with Hashem your G-D’ (Devarim 18:13): Rashi explains that it refers to being happy with what one has.
This noble approach consequently allowed him and his family to survive and the world to continue through them. This is a very powerful lesson we can learn from Noach: instead of focusing on and desiring what others have, we need to appreciate all the tremendous good which Hashem gives us. As Chazal teaches (Yoma 38b), “one does not touch anything designated for his friend even by a hair’s breadth,” so it clearly serves no purpose to be envious. So instead of focusing on what others have more than us, when we focus on all the incredible good which we have, it is a recipe for a life of happiness and for us to become tzadikim! This will lead us to be truly wealthy, as our Rabbis (Avos 4:1) teach, ‘who is rich, one who is happy with what one has’.
Another area in which we see how Noach exemplified in the quality of gratitude was how he acted when he survived the mabul. He immediately built a mizbeach and offered korbanos. The Pirkai DaRebbi Eliezer (23) teaches that he saw that the whole world was destroyed and he and family were miraculously saved, he had so much hakaras hatov (gratitude) for this miracle, that he offered korbanos to Hashem for saving him and his family! We can learn from Noach the importance of appreciating the remarkable gift of life. After all, each second Hashem is causing our heart to breathe, allowing our lungs to help us breathe etc.
Chazal teaches that each breath we breathe, we should really be thanking Hashem, since each moment of life is a priceless gift. The fact that we are alive enables us to enjoy all the incredible benefits that Hashem constantly gives us, as well as allowing us to do Torah and mitzvos; gaining us eternal life in olam habah. Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe taught, the reason why the Hebrew word for life, chaim, is in the plural, is because life is an experience to be shared!
May we be zocheh to learn from Noach, to appreciate all the tremendous good we have and the fact that we are privileged to be alive. Doing so adds so much goodness and meaning to our lives, as well as bringing us salvations; as we see in the following remarkable story.
A 30 year old avreich was diagnosed with a very rare and serious disease. With great sorrow, a specialist told him that there was no cure for this severe illness and predicted that he would have around two more years to live. To the doctor’s surprise, the man looked very calm. ‘In my career of 20 years, I have had to make many grim predictions, yet I have never seen anyone look so calm, what are you thinking about that makes you so relaxed?’ asked the astonished doctor. The avreich explained that he was thinking about the incredible kindness of Hashem for the gift of life! ‘Even if your predictions will be true, I would have two incredible years of life. Every moment of life is a gift that is undeserved. I will be able to rise each morning more than 700 times, and recite modeh ani thanking Hashem for returning my neshamah and for another priceless day of life. Hashem is my loving caring Father, who is to say He, he will not give me more of the incredible gift of life.’ The Admor of Nadvorna who related this story, concluded by saying that it has been over 13 years since this grim prediction and the avreich is still waking up each morning, thanking Hashem for the priceless gift of life!
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