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ב"ה

A Lonely Celebration

Friday, 4 November, 2016 - 2:34 pm

A teacher of the earth science class was lecturing on map reading.

After explaining about latitude, longitude, degrees and minutes the teacher asked, “Suppose I asked you to meet me for lunch at 23 degrees, 4 minutes north latitude and 45 degrees, 15 minutes east longitude…?”

After a confused silence, a voice volunteered, “I guess you’d be eating alone.”

***

After Noach and his family were saved from the destruction of The Flood, he set out to reestablish life on earth.  The first thing he planted was a vineyard. This soon was his undoing, because he got drunk and suffered at the hands of his own son.

We would expect Noach, the man who spoke with G-d and was exclusively deemed righteous enough to be saved, to be grateful that he was spared.  We would expect him to be humbled and thankful. Yet, his response demonstrates arrogance and thanklessness. Yes, he did build an altar to G-d, but then he went about his business, instead of tending to Hashem’s garden.

Perhaps Noach’s failure began a lot earlier. When Hashem told him his life would be spared, he had 100 years to prepare. Yet, when he entered the ark, it was his family alone that accompanied him.  Nobody – not even one person – joined him.

His failure to gain any adherents was his ultimate downfall.

The problem wasn’t simply that Noach celebrated with a L’Chaim.

His shortcoming was that he celebrated alone.  A true celebration is one that is shared with others. Noach, having failed to attract others to his cause, was setting himself up for disaster by indulging in a selfish celebration.

***

We all have moments of success. The guarantee that they will be lasting is when we share them with others.

Check out this video for more on Noach's failure:

 

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