(Genesis 6:9-11:32)

Haftara (Isaiah 54:1-55:5)

1. [8:22] “While the earth remains, there will be cold and heat, sowing and harvesting, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease”.  Is this the same idea as “There is a time for every purpose under heaven (Kohelet 3:1)”?  Is there another way of understanding the pasuk?

2. [9:6] “Whichever man spills the blood of another man, he will be killed by man, because He made man in the image of God”.  If man is made in the image of God, then what justification is there to execute the murderer? Wasn’t he also made in the image of God?

3. [11:4] “And they said, ‘Let us build ourselves a city and a tower and its top will be in the heavens, and let us make ourselves a name…”  Did they want to challenge God, or did they want to be famous, or did they want an identity? What proof is there for the answer?

4. [Isaiah 54:6] “And all your children shall be taught of  the Lord.”  In this messianic vision, we are told that God will personally teach everyone. Does that mean that everything will be so clear that there will be no intellectual discussion?

5. [54:10] “…my kindness will not depart from you, and my covenant of peace will not be removed…” In what way are kindness and peace similar? What other values are similar to kindness and peace?

Commentary

The basis of religious faith is rooted in the recognition of the greatness and perfection of the Infinite. However we conceive of it is insignificant in comparison…to what it really is. If we lose this basic perception, our faith will become poor and without value…If our faith is to shine in a living light, it must be linked to a level of enlightenment that transcends…

–R. Avraham Y. H. Kuk, 1865-1935, Lithuania and Israel.

This study page is dedicated to the memory of Rivkah Rochel bat Ya’akov haLevi and Chaya Kornberg, and Yechiel Eliezer ben Yitzchok Meir and Rochel Laya Kornberg

And this study page is also dedicated to the memory of Gad Eliahu ben David and Kochava–Eli Zucker