Parashah: Noach (Noah)
6 Cheshvan 5787 / October 17th, 2026
By: Kyle Doberstein
This Week’s Readings:
Torah: Genesis 6:9 – 11:32
Haftarah: Isaiah 54:1 – 55:5
Brit Chadashah: John 3:14-21
Some of you probably know that I drive an old 2000 Dodge van. This car is terrible, but to me, it's the best thing I've ever bought. Even though this car is old and rusty and its engine can probably explode tomorrow, I still give it my compassion and care since it's done so well for me. In a similar way, G-d does the same to us, but in this case, we are not all old cars; we are mankind with free will. But even so, G-d values us greatly and remembers us. G-d makes covenants with us because of His abundant compassion. However, it's up to us whether we want to commit to those covenants.
In the Torah portion, we hear about Noah’s adventures in the Great Flood. Noah was a righteous man, and
G-d found favor in him because of that. So, G-d tells Noah to build an ark to be spared by the upcoming destruction of the rest of mankind. Of course, Noah follows G-d’s commands, builds a great ark, and takes with him his family and animals from the land. G-d keeps them safe, and in the end, Noah thanks G-d by burning offerings to Him. In response, G-d decides to make a covenant with man from that day on, that no flood like that should ever occur again on Earth. G-d even puts a rainbow in the clouds to remind us of that covenant. G-d did this out of love for man and to prove that He is truly a compassionate G-d of discipline and loving kindness.
The Haftarah portion also shows G-d’s compassion for us. G-d says that just as He was angry with mankind and sent a great flood to destroy it, He also regathers us through His compassion. As we read earlier in Genesis, G-d saved Noah, his family, and even the animals of the earth and made a covenant with us to never flood the earth again to show that He wants His relationship with mankind to be strong. G-d also says in Isaiah that for a brief moment He deserted us, but will regather us in great compassion. This is similar to the great flood He swore to never do again, and because of that, He has also sworn to never stay angry at us.
The Brit Chadashah portion tells of the conversation between Nicodemus and Yeshua. Yeshua explains that whoever believes in the Son of Man will have everlasting life. John 3:16 states, “For G-d so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” G-d, even knowing man’s wicked ways, sent His only Son to save us and give us a way to have a relationship with Him again. Once again, this is G-d’s ultimate covenant with us as mankind.
It is clear that G-d keeps these promises to us and does all these things because He truly does love us. He is a compassionate G-d for the works He does for us, like sparing Noah and swearing to never flood the earth again, swearing to never rebuke or stay angry with us, and finally by sending His one and only Son to let us have a true relationship with Him. It is very clear that G-d wants us to be in relationship with Him, and it's up to us to fulfill our side of the love by actively participating in that relationship and committing to it. Just as I will never give up on my old van, I encourage all of you to never give up on G-d, because G-d has never given up on us.