Weekly Torah Portion

Prepared by Rabbi Stephen Texon

Dear Friends,

This week's Torah portion- the story of the greatest flood in history, the incessant rain that continued for 40 days and 40 nights relentlessly as a manifestation of G-d's anger in wiping out all life on earth. ONE man and one man alone with his family found favor in G-d's eyes to be saved from this terrible catastrophe. Noach proved to be morally upright in a world of utter decay and violence. He and his family deserved to be saved as the one salvageable remnant of that perverse generation. Noach was instructed to build the "ark of his salvation" to weather/ride out the raging storm that would engulf the earth, and so he did, but he and his laborers had to construct it themselves with hard work and great dedication. 

We too, as we speak, are surrounded by whirlwinds and storms of controversy. We must learn the lesson of Noach to build for  ourselves and for our generation an "ark of salvation" to ride out the buffeting storms of life, and to sail high above the rough waves of dissension and controversy, to arrive at a safer and more peaceful world for ourselves and for generations to come. 

The rains will eventually cease, the sun will shine, and with the help of the Almighty and our good and righteous works the soft white doves of peace will return to us with beautiful olive branches in their beaks, flying under the magnificent backdrop and glow of the rainbow!

Shabbat Shalom!