By: Kayla Wolfson (12th)
In this week’s Torah Portion, Parshat Noach, Hashem decides to flood the Earth and spare only Noach and his family, allowing them to live on an Ark in the water as they wait out the flood. After many months passed, Noach decides to send a dove from the Ark to check if the land is dry and the rain has stopped.
Noach frees the dove, and hopes that it will not return, which would signal that the flood has ended. However, the dove eventually does return. Although Noach is annoyed about this, he hides his disappointment and stays quiet.
The story of Noach and the dove teaches us how to act towards others. Many times we may encounter obstacles that bother us. Instead of keeping to ourselves, or trying to figure it out alone, we lash out and scream at others who have not done us wrong; we take out our frustration towards the person providing us unwanted information, which is not right.
Noach not only stayed quiet despite his temptation to scream at the dove, but he also embraced the messenger by gently putting forth his hand and taking it into the Ark. Due to Noach’s kindness toward the dove, the bird was willing to repeat the mission the following week.
From Noach we learn how to hold ourselves back from our own anger. Whenever someone gives you upsetting news, try to overcome the desire to get angry with the person. Doing this will make you feel better and it will lead to others seeing you as an approachable, receptive, and caring person. If we can make people feel as good as Noach made an animal feel, the world will be a much more loving and peaceful place.
Shabbat Shalom!
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