[Avodah] RSRH on the First Pasuk in Noach

[Micha Berger]

On Thu, Oct 11, 2018 at 09:58:05AM +0000, Professor L. Levine via Avodah wrote:
: The following is part of RSRH's commentary on the first Pasuk in Noach
:> It is far more difficult to remain morally pure in an age of immorality
:> than to remain honest in an age of dishonesty.
: 
: I ask, "What are the implications of living in today's age of both
: immorality and dishonesty?"

The Meshekh Chomah notes...

Pausing here for a shameless plug: I am now giving a quick (15-20 min)
talk on Facebook Wed nights 9:30pm EDT. This comment is from that. So,
the MC notes...

That the dor hamabul sinned both
- sexually - ki hishchis kol basar; and
- financially - chamas.

And he writes about the opening pasuq, based on a Rashi on the
Gemara (AZ 6a):
tamim -- anav ushefal ruach
tzadiq - [bemaasav -gemara] - belo chamas

RMShK writes that Noach "bedorosav" -- his 2 doros -- had very different
challenges.

Living in the pre-flood dor, being a tzadiq bemaasav and not influenced
by the general dishonesty and sexual license around him, was the greater
challenge. (How often does someone cut ethical corners because "that's
how business is done now?") However being tamim in his midos, his anavah,
was easy. The culture didn't value his tzidqus.

However, in the post-flood dor, everything existed becaus of him. And
the people around him had learned from the experience of tending to
the animals for a year. Little challenge from peer pressure, but a much
bigger challenge keeping his ego in check.

This is a point the MC makes on "Malki-Tzedeq melekh Shaleim" -- the
year in the midbar was a lesson in sheleimus, and that's his part of
the foundation of Y-m. Avrahama added "behar Hashem Yeira'ah" to
make Yerushalayim. (And thus the "-ayim", pair, in the name.) See
MC Bereishis 22:14.

Back to the point, it would seem that chazal attribute both difficulties
to Noach's pre-flood life. It too was an "age of both immorality and
dishonesty".

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

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Micha Berger                 Time flies...
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