Noah 2024

Rabbi Marc Gellman of the God Squad, who I had the pleasure of working with for several years as my Reform colleague in the community I served on Long Island, tells the Noah story just a tad differently. He narrates the story from the eyes of the Zebra. Why the Zebra? Rabbi Gellman assumed that the animals entered the ark two by two, in alphabetical order. The Zebra would, therefore, be the last animal to enter the ark (if at that time they entered following the English alphabet). And the Zebra complains to Noah, why is he the last to board the ark…it just doesn’t seem fair!!! And the Zebra has to wait as the rain starts to come down, as all of the other animals were making their way up the ramp. 

I wonder what the Zebra saw from his perspective while waiting. Did the Zebra see order or chaos? Were there other Zebras who were complaining that they were not chosen? Was Noah able to take hold of the situation and keep calm and control? Was the Zebra able to hear the dissension of the people who were not allowed to go onto the ark? Did he sense panic and tears as people realized that the end was near for that generation of God’s creation? Did the Zebra understand what was to follow once the ark door closed and the flood waters rose and drowned the generation that was considered so contrary to God’s plans, and that God wanted to somewhat start over?

I wonder if the juxtaposition of the reading of the chapters dealing with Noah and the flood and this coming Tuesday’s election day may have been fortuitously planned as part of God’s scheme in the calendar of the world.  And the questions that must be asked is from whose perspective should we view the flood and should we actually find parallels to the week ahead? Do we view it from the view of God? If so, what might we be anticipating based on which party platform we agree with and candidate we vote for, and which one is finally is declared the new President of the United States of America? Will our world turn into the chaos of prior to the flood or following the flood? Should we see it from the vision of Noah’s family with the promise of a future or from the view of those who ultimately would be swept up by the raging waters of the flood? Or should we see if from the eyes of the Zebra, who is last to board the boat, and probably one of the first off?

Here is what we do know from the last verses of the story of the flood. The flood did not bring about the new world that was anticipated by God. Humans were no better. Noah leaves the ark, and drinks until he becomes intoxicated and falls asleep in his tent. He is so distraught by what he now sees in his world. He misses his friends and even those who disagreed with him. He is disparaged by the destruction of the world as he knew it as well as the loss of life. 

For Noah, it is not a new world, but a world that needs to be rebuilt. It needed a moral guide, which Noah clearly is not. He had high hopes that as he disembarked from the ark, he might have been placed back in the Garden of Eden. But that was not the case. As the story continues, we also are witness to the sexual immorality of Canaan, one of his sons, and he realizes that the world has not changed. He is grateful that his other two sons, Shem and Japheth, are not like their brother. And the stage is set for Abraham to enter the world. Abraham will become a moral compass, an example and a leader for others to not only learn from as a role model, but also to join forces with.

The Noah story is one that reminds us that the world is not perfect. Clearly it was not before the flood. But it was not perfect afterwards as well.  Nor are human beings. 

The Zebra was the last one to see what the end of the world was like before the flood, and one of the first to see the world following. (Clearly the raven and the dove were the first one’s off the ark). Hopefully, we can imagine not only what the Zebra experiences as he and she left the ark, but more importantly what the dove finally envisioned when she brought back the olive branch. 

Am Yisrael Chai.
Bring them home, NOW!
Shabbat shalom

Rabbi K.