October 24, 2025 – Dr. Susanna Kokkonen
Noach 5786 (2025)
Genesis 6:9-11:32; Isaiah 54:1-10
Noach, the name of this Torah portion refers to a righteous man called Noah. This is a very familiar story to many of us. We may feel that it needs no explanation. But there is more there than meets the eye.
“This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.” (Genesis 6:9 NIV)
The original text in Hebrew is clearer. Noah was a righteous man in his generation. This means first that there are different generations suffering from different forms of corruption. Second it means that Noah was righteous compared to his peers. That is where he stood out. He rejected the influences from those around him.
“Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence.” (Genesis 6:11 NIV)
What the world suffered from among other things was violence. The word the Hebrew Bible uses of violence here is “hamas”. This is not an Arabic word, as in the name of the terrorist organization. But it is still interesting that in fact their name is a word in the Bible and means violence.
“So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. So make yourself an ark…” (Genesis 6:13-14 NIV)
What kind of ark was it?
Whilst we get the dimensions of the physical building in the text, we need to know that the Hebrew word for ark “tevah” means also “word”. This is God’s protection to us, our ark. We need to go to His word for protection. For Noah and his family there was protection in the ark until the waters receded.
God confirmed His covenant with Noah. First, He confirmed what was said during Creation: man was made in the image of God.
“Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind. As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.” (Genesis 9: 6-7 NIV)
Furthermore, a specific sign was given to ensure mankind that God would not destroy them with waters again. This sign consists of seven colors, and it is a sign of God’s faithfulness.
“And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” (Genesis 9:12-13 NIV)
Noah’s Ark in Warsaw
During the Holocaust Dr. Jan Zabinski (1897-1974) and his wife Antonina Zabinska (1908-1971) were directors of the famed Warsaw Zoo.
They began helping their Jewish friends inside the Warsaw Ghetto. Dr. Jan was able to visit the ghetto to get manure for the zoo animals. He smuggled Jews from the ghetto into their home; hid them in zoo grounds and empty animal shelters.
Ryszard (1932-2019), their child, brought the escapees food and other supplies. Secret diaries documenting the ghetto’s terrible circumstances were also buried in the safety of the zoo. Truly, the Zabinski Family -like Noah- were righteous in their generation.
A Moment of Abandonment
Prophet Isaiah used Noah and the story of the waters as a metaphor for difficulties and hardships the Jewish people would go through. Following their exile, God would not abandon them again.
“For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD your Redeemer. “To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again.” (Isaiah 54: 7-9 NIV)
Isaiah talked about “the days of Noah”. This same expression is used in the New Testament by Jesus:
“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:37 NIV)
Jesus talked about people doing everyday things. They were oblivious to events that would soon overtake them.
“For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. And they were oblivious until the flood came and swept them all away.” (Matthew 24:38 NIV)
I would like to suggest that all these things tie together.
First the Torah says that Noah was righteous in his generation. Second Isaiah mentions the days of Noah. Third Jesus says that the days preceding His coming will be like the days of Noah.
Our world, not unlike Noah’s world (and later in the worst possible way during the Holocaust), is filled with violence. Just like during the Holocaust, many manage to live their lives without a second thought to what is going on around them.
But we are told to discern more clearly! Let us not be unaware but like the stars shine light!
*For an explanation of the terms see the first The Torah Portion Blog.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
Genesis 1:3 NIV
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
Psalm 119:105 NIV
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
Isaiah 60:1 NIV
…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 NIV
Torah Scrolls were attacked and desecrated during the Holocaust. The enduring images of the Kristallnacht (November 9-10,1938) are those of synagogues on fire and Torah Scrolls burning. Some of these desecrated Torah Scrolls disappeared, others were buried. Some were lovingly rescued and are on display in museums in various locations.
