Oct 23rd 2009, 00:00

Names in the Torah are very important and very telling. Adam, created from the dust of the earth, comes from “adamah” which means, “earth.” Abraham means, “father of a multitude of nations.” Isaac, from the Hebrew root “to laugh” was so named because Sarah was 99 years old when she gave birth. Jacob means “heel,” because he was holding on to his twin brother’s foot when they were born. Moses means, “drawn from the water.” In many cases the reason or explanation for the name is given and is a featured part of the text. In this week’s Torah portion, we meet Noah. We all know the story, but few us know the meaning behind the story. Noah’s name means, “comfort,” a fact that is really not highlighted in the story. What is emphasized is that Noah was righteous, blameless in his age, and that he walked with God. More appropriately, he should have been named for one of those qualities, but he isn’t. So, why is he named Noah? The text doesn’t actually tell us. Later commentators and authorities argue over why he was considered blameless and righteous. Some say he was good only for his own time when much evil existed. Others say that, compared to any time, he was above reproach. But these opinions don’t help us answer the question of why his name is Noah. Perhaps he is misnamed. After all, unlike Abraham who argued on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah, Noah is passive and does not plead to stay the hand of destruction. He may have been righteous, but he certainly was not compassionate. He was obedient in the sense that he did what God told him to do, but perhaps he was a little too much of an android and less of a human being. Still, why is he named Noah? I don’t believe his name indicates his own state of being. Clearly he did not live a life of comfort. Rather, I believe his name indicates that others looked to him for comfort. His life and his actions, especially building that big boat, a shelter from the storm, were a source of comfort for his family, the animals, and ultimately all humanity, save those destroyed in the flood. We, too, look to others for comfort in our times of need. Both in good times and in tragic times, the importance of family, friends, and community cannot be overestimated. Sadly, there are so many who do not have anyone to turn to and so they turn to substances, gambling, shopping, or something else to fill the void. How many sad and tragic stories do we hear about in our society? Even some who acquire wealth and fame cannot handle it and have no one to guide them, no one to give them comfort and support. Noah ultimately comes to teach us the importance of family and community, of having someone or some group to live your lives with. Our sages later put it this way: “Do not separate yourself from the community.” I'm sure they did not have Noah in mind when they wrote that, but if you think about Noah, not just his life, but the real meaning of his name, you will see the connection. Tonight at Temple is our fabulous Musical Shabbat Service at 7:30 PM. As always, if you cannot be here in person, you can watch the service live on the Internet at www.templebethtikvah.com (click on Live Services). Tomorrow, we have Torah Study and religious school at 9:00 AM and the Shabbat morning service at 10:00 AM, which will be led by our 8th grade religious school class. Have a great weekend and enjoy the warm weather. Also, GO ANGELS!!!