Parshah Noach

Parshah Noach introduces us to Noah (the only righteous man) in a world that spiraled into corruption and violence. It was a society so reactive and impulsive that people stopped thinking before acting. Every urge became an action, every emotion a justification. The result? Chaos, destruction, and ultimately…the flood.

It’s not so different from our world today. We can’t always see what comes next. We tell ourselves stories in our head and this leads to anxiety and imagining the worst.

Noach followed G-d’s commandment and built and entered the ark. Imagine the ark as our mind and the floodwaters as the total uncertainty surrounding us. The storm did not stop but the ark stopped the water from getting in.

Having a reactive mind brings the storm inside. Silence becomes a frightening prediction. Delay becomes rejection. Uncertainty becomes everything that can go wrong will go wrong.

Let’s be aware and notice when that door opens. Faith is remembering and knowing that we should not let these thoughts enter and take command of our mind. But it does not mean ignoring what’s going on or suppressing our feelings.

Let’s ask ourselves….what is it I actually know vs. what am I imagining and what is the next responsible action I can take with trust and faith in G-d?

Storms are all around us. Will our minds become part of the flood or an ark that carries us through it?

Shabbat Shalom * Am Israel Chai! * Peace