A study in contrasts between two Biblical figures, one walking with G-d, and the other walking in front of G-d. Noah is described in the Torah as a righteous individual who walks with G-d, while Abraham seems to be one step in front of Him. The Jewish people have figuratively walked in front of G-d, taking positions and formulating approaches with the intent of making our world a better place in which to live.

 

We are the descendants of Abraham, who implores G-d to save Sodom if there are a minimum of ten righteous people living there. We look at Abraham as our father who risks all to save his nephew, Lot, from captivity. We are the heirs of Abraham's great tradition of caring for others that guides us and inspires us to be involved in Tikkun Olam projects.

 

We distance ourselves from the selfishness of Noah, who seems only interested in protecting his family's interests, and who builds an ark of protection from the flood at the behest of G-d. Noah is not a paragon of virtue, in that he never challenges G-d's plans to destroy the known world of his time.

 

In our schools, we emphasize the example of Abraham in recognizing that we, as citizens of the world, have a responsibility to reach out to others who need our help. To do less would be more in the spirit of Noah.
- Rabbi Howard Finkelstein