A Moment of Torah with Rabbi Neil Sandler

"These are the generations of _________ (your name)." After you have filled in that blank with your name, what words would follow? Naturally, the most common response to that question would be the names of your family members – children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, if you are so fortunately blessed. In the past year, Susan and I have been particularly blessed with the addition of our granddaughter, Remi, and then our daughter-in-law, Rachel. Our "generations" are growing!

One of the themes of the Book of Bereisheet is family lines. In many instances, among Genesis' primary figures, we see the words "These are the generations of ________" followed by any number of family members' names. Eventually that is the case regarding Noah in this week's Torah Portion (at the beginning of chapter 10). But when we are introduced to Noah at the very beginning of the parasha and see the familiar words, "These are the generations of Noah," we don't immediately see a list of names. The Torah does mention Noah's three sons, but, first, it shares the following with us:

These are the generations of Noah – Noah was a righteous man; he was blameless in his age (Gn. 6:9)

What is the significance of the phrase "These are the generations" followed immediately by a characterization of Noah? The medieval commentor, Rashi, provides us with keen insight:

Preceding this phrase ("Noah was a righteous man") with "the generations" of Noah teaches you that the essence of the generations of the righteous is their good deeds.

Noah had three sons, none of whose names come easily to most of us. Yet most of us remember that Noah was "righteous." It may be that the Rabbis debated just how righteous Noah was relative to the righteous qualities of Abraham but, again, we remember Noah's righteousness.

As dear as our generations are to us, Rashi reminds us of an enduring truth. People know and will remember us, most significantly, through our actions and what those actions say about us.

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "Your actions speak so loudly, I can't hear what you are saying." May our worthy actions speak loudly and in lasting fashion.

Shabbat Shalom.