This week's parsha is Noach, and follows the story of Noah and the ark. This story has always resonated with me because of the virtues G-d sees in Noah and the fact that Noah and I share a name (kinda).

The parsha begins with the story of Noah and the ark, in which G-d recognizes the evil prevailing in the world and sets out to purge it and make a fresh start. G-d commands Noah to build an ark and take two of each animal. Noah, the animals, and his family are spared in a time of wickedness. For 40 days and 40 nights, the earth flooded, and finally a dove with an olive leaf signaled the end of the deluge.

The second half of the parsha examines what happens after the flood. Noah gets drunk, and an act of incest is committed involving Ham, and Noah, in turn, curses his descendants. Finally, the people united to build a tower to heaven, but this infuriated G-d. G-d then scatters the people and confuses their languages to keep them uniting in rebellion, but to instead be rooted in humility and respect.

What resonated with me the most is G-d's choice in Noah. It is said that Noah walked with G-d and was a righteous man. Noah is chosen. Noah builds, Noah is resilient, Noah carries on life. Noah is exactly who we, the Jewish people, need to value, embody, and become. The Jews are the chosen people, and in times like now, where antisemitism, hate, and bigotry remain, we must prevail. Throughout our history in escaping Egypt, surviving the holocaust, and now having all the hostages return at last, we have always remained resilient and strong.

When envisioning the modern-day dove, I think of Israel. In this Parsha, the dove symbolizes hope, tranquility, and peace. When Israel was founded in 1948, it was because the Jewish people needed a homeland. It was the rainbow after the storm, like in the story, when G-d provided a beautiful rainbow as a testament of his covenant with man, demonstrating compassion and restraint. We needed a place to be loud and proud and all things Jewish. Although the past 2 years have been the toughest ever, we have proven once again that the Jewish people will prevail. We will not be silenced by propaganda, hate, ignorance, and even terrorists. Once again, the Jewish people have made it through one of the darkest storms, and the return of our hostages reminds us of the strength and prevalence of our people.

Within the Jewish community, we must unite as one front. Although we have wide differences in geography, traditions, and language, we all share one common trait: we are Jewish. When G-d destroys the Tower of Babel, G-d does it to disperse humanity and prevent the dangers of unchecked pride and uniformity. G-d warns us against hubris and, through that, teaches the virtues of valuing uniqueness and accepting one another. Judging not only defies the values of unity and compassion, but it tears apart the Jewish community when, really, we are all uniquely the same.

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Shabbat Shalom,

Noa Nierman