How the Jews Changed the World
5 min read
These are the offspring of Noach [Noah]. Noach was a tzaddik [righteous man], perfect in relation to his generation. Noach walked with God (Genesis, 6:9).
Why does the Torah state, “These are the offspring of Noach,” and then digress to tell us that “Noach was a tzaddik” before informing us of the names of his children?
The commentator Rashi explains that this teaches us that “the main offspring of the righteous are their good deeds.” This explains the digression. It reveals that toldos, the word for “physical offspring,” can be used to mean “spiritual offspring” as well.
Noach’s attributes and achievements in personal and spiritual growth are referred to as his progeny. Noach is distinguished for having conceived, labored, and given birth to refined spiritual and personal traits. This elevated him to the status of having “walked with God.”
As we examine the analogy of “walking with God,” one may question the use of that particular word. Self-growth and lasting change are gradual processes that develop by taking continued steps forward, much like walking. The word “walk” alludes to a slow but steady moral progression.
The ten generations separating Noach from Adam are characterized by moral failures, plummeting humankind into a downward spiral. They culminated with the Flood, in which all of the inhabitants of Earth were wiped out, with the exception of Noach, his family, and the pairs of animals to replenish the Earth once again.
After the Flood, Noach became the progenitor of humanity. The Torah calls Noach ish tzaddik. The Midrash enlightens us with yet a deeper understanding of the juxtaposition of the word “righteous” with the names of Noach’s children. The Torah is telling us that our positive actions are likened to producing offspring. One’s legacy includes his or her worthy deeds.
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein elucidates the connection between positive action and offspring. “One should love good deeds the way he or she loves their own children. They should perform them out of love, not mere duty.”
We invest boundless energy and effort in raising our children and helping them to develop their abilities. The Torah equates this with the same effort we, as individuals, should expend in developing our own characters.
Accordingly, we can never give up on ourselves. We are all “works in progress” and never completed. In fact, we must aspire to continually give birth to new and rejuvenated aspects of who we truly are and who we can become. Continual inner refinement is actually being in touch with oneself. Recognizing the depths of one’s latent potential, we can strive to cultivate and to actualize more and more of it. To the extent that our efforts are transformed into positive deeds, we have produced spiritual offspring. These will become our progeny.
One can never underestimate the significance of a kind word or one positive act. Once set into motion, our positive words and actions reverberate forward with a momentum that continues to shape and to affect future generations.
In our challenging times, not all parents are successful in transmitting their cherished values to the next generation. This is not always a poor reflection on the parents, nor an indication of defective parenting. It has become increasingly common to find that disappointing outcomes are more the result of combative and toxic outside influences infiltrating the minds and hearts of our children. It’s not surprising that many parents are not able to counteract today’s environment.
The Torah provides parents with the opportunity to pause, reflect, and recognize that indeed there is yet another definition and higher purpose for raising ourselves through the process of raising our children. This expansive vantage point is to be gleaned out of what, at first glance, appears to be a digression. An inconsistency in the opening line of the Torah portion is actually a red flag, alerting one to look deeper. Greater meaning and insights lie in wait beneath the surface. They await our discovery and application.
After thorough exploration, the ultimate truth is revealed. Our deeds and what we’ve made of our own characters will become our eternal legacies.
Look for and find opportunities for self-growth. They surround you!
