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FIXTURES FAUCETS HARDWARE ACCESSORIES BROOKLYN, NY 718.787.1000 HOMEANDSTONE.COM For one thing, the only two contexts in which the word “ tevah ” (“ark”) appears throughout the Humash is the story of Noah, and the story of Moshe. The Torah tells that Moshe’s mother, Yocheved, saw “ ki tov hu – that he was good” (2:2), and so she decided to hide him from the Egyptian authorities who set out to fulfill Pharaoh’s decree that every Israelite boy be killed. She proceeded to place him in a “ tevah ” – a basket – and had it float in the river, where it was discovered by Pharaoh’s daughter. The word “ tov ” (“good”) in this verse has the numerical value ( gematria ) of 17. This verse may thus be read to mean that Yocheved prophetically saw that now, 17 generations after Noah, Noah’s soul had returned to rectify his mistake. She thus placed Moshe in a tevah in the water, just as Noah was saved from the water by living in a tevah . Moreover, this explains Moshe’s unusual formulation of his demand: “ Meheni na .” Why did he ask Gd to “erase” him if the people weren’t forgiven? The answer is that the word “ meheni ” contains the same letters as the expression “ meh Noah – the waters of Noah.” This was the moment when Moshe rectified his mistake in his previous incarnation, when Noah failed to pray for his generation, and thus received blame for the deluge that destroyed the rest of mankind. Moshe made reference to Noah’s guilt which he now cleansed, using the word “ meheni .” The word “ na ” in this verse can also be understood according to the Arizal’s teaching. This word sometimes means “please,” but can also mean “now.” Possibly, when Moshe said, “ Meheni na ,” he meant, “Now, as opposed to the previous occasion, I want to be erased.” Moshe adds the word “ na ” in order to contrast his decision at that moment, to save the people whom Gd had condemned to annihilation, with his mistake in his previous life, when he – Noah – failed to pray for his generation. Our Generation’s Deluge This concept, developed by the Arizal, emphasizes for us the importance of looking out for the people around us, and, even well beyond, for our nation and even the entire world. It is not okay to build an “ark” only for ourselves and our families, like Noah did. We must follow Moshe’s example and assume responsibility for all Am Yisrael . Today, we are all threatened by a catastrophic “flood,” a tidal wave of decadence, overindulgence, and depravity. Like a powerful current, the culture of modern society pulls everyone in its path. So many fellow Jews, precious souls, are “drowning” in the decadence of modern society, unable to withstand the overpowering lures and temptations that abound. Many have fallen into spiritually harmful behavior patterns, and many have fallen into dangerous addictions, such as alcohol, substances, gambling, or various forms of internet addiction. This flood of hedonism and pleasure-seeking pulls today’s Jews away from our sacred heritage, away from a Torah lifestyle, away from the sanctity and the unparalleled joy and fulfillment of religious life. In Loving Memory of Ezra ben Senyar, A”H 14 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE