B"H
Tuesday, Tishrei 30, 5777 / November 1, 2016
Today is the first day of Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan - also called “Mar-Cheshvan.” The first day Rosh Chodesh is the last day of the outgoing month. Tomorrow, the second day Rosh Chodesh, will be the first day in the month of Cheshvan.
As on every Rosh Chodesh, we recite the Hallel, the additional Musaf service and also read from the Torah about the Rosh Chodesh sacrifices in the Temple.
The first half of this week’s Parsha, Noach, is about The Great Flood and the destruction it caused. It was in the month of Cheshvan that the Great Flood began.
After The Flood, G-d promised Noach (Noah) never again to bring such destruction upon the world. G-d said to Noach, “This is a sign of the covenant which I am placing between Me and every living soul that is with you, for all generations. I have placed My rainbow in the cloud and it will be a sign between Myself and the earth… I will look at it and remember the everlasting covenant.”
Because the rainbow is such a significant symbol, the sages established the following special blessing upon seeing a rainbow: “Blessed are you L-rd, our G-d, King of the universe, Who remembers the covenant, is trustworthy in His covenant and fulfills His word.”
Q.Why did G-d have to give Noach a sign that He will never destroy the world?
A. The Midrash explains that when G-d told Noach, after The Flood, to leave the ark and be fruitful and multiply, Noach was hesitant to have more children for fear that G-d may again destroy the world.
G-d then made an oath not to bring another flood which will destroy the universe. Noah was still hesitant and asked G-d for a sign. G-d showed him the rainbow and declared, "This is my sign. Whenever mankind will deserve a flood, I will look at the rainbow and remember the covenant."
Q. How is G-d's covenant not to bring destruction to the world represented by the sign of the rainbow?
A. The Midrash explains that when two warriors approached each other to make peace, each one would point their bow toward themselves to signal that they do not seek war.
Thus, G-d said to Noah, "During The Great Flood My bow was drawn and aimed against the world. The rainbow resembles the bow pointing upward. This expresses My promise never to direct My arrows of destruction against the world again."
The Talmud tells us that during the lifetime of the Talmudic sage, Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai, who lived 2,000 years ago, a rainbow was not seen. Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai’s merits were so great that they protected the world and a rainbow was not needed.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY & WONDERFUL MONTH