Why Work Hard?

Published: Tue, 10/21/25

Updated: Wed, 10/22/25

"And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth."

Genesis 9:1

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Hi friend,

This coming Shabbat's Torah portion, read on Saturday, October 25th, is Parashat Noach. In this week’s reading, Noach, Noah and his family, along with at least one pair of each living creature, survive the Flood by taking refuge in an Ark. The erection of the Tower of Babel angers G‑d, and leads to the dispersal of Noah‘s descendants. Abraham and Sarah are born.

Join us in exploring the Weekly Bible Chapter: Why Work Hard? with Rabbi Avraham Norin, and let’s learn and reflect together!

Please enjoy this teaching of our beloved Root Source teacher, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz of blessed memory, about this week's Torah portion, Noah, and share your thoughts with us!

Last week, our popular Root Source teacher Rabbi Gedalia Meyer talked about Bereshit. Watch it below.

Another worthwhile post of our Root Source teacher Rabbi Ari Shvat. If you cannot understand the Hebrew phrases from the context, please comment and we will provide translations and explanations as needed.

Check below to hear what Gidon Ariel and Alan Latta have to share.

We sign off with a nice comment and a beautiful photo of Jordan Valley, Israel.

Shalom,

Gidon Ariel and Bob O’Dell
Root Source Founders

Parashat Noach

While society as a whole descended into a state of anarchy and utter corruption, only Noah remained righteous and faithful to G‑d’s ways. Noah was informed by G‑d that a mabul (“flood”) will soon destroy all of civilization, and only Noah and his immediate family would survive in a teivah (“ark,” boat) that he was to build. G‑d gave Noah the exact dimensions of the teivah he was to build, and commanded Noah to bring along into the teivah specimens of every species of animal and bird to repopulate the world after the mabul, and to stock the boat with food to feed all its inhabitants.

Weekly Bible Chapter:

Why Work Hard?

There is no achievement without effort. God saved Noah from the flood, but first Noah had to build the ark. God promised Abraham the land, but first he had to buy the cave of Machpelah in which to bury Sarah. God promised the Israelites the land, but they had to fight the battles. Joseph became a leader, as he dreamed he would. But first he had to hone his practical and administrative skills, first in Potiphar’s house, then in prison. Even when God assures us that something will happen, it will not happen without our effort. A Divine promise is not a substitute for human responsibility. To the contrary, it is a call to responsibility.

Read here!

Parashat Noah: Fitting the Entire World in the Ark

The problem of the flood exists not just in the time of Noah. To be sure, God promised that there would never again be such a flood of water, but as any good lawyer would point out, He never promised to desist from other floods. God’s promise is, in this respect, a carefully-termed legal clause, complete with limitations. In fact, there is a flood in almost every generation.

Read Here!

Bereshit:
Rabbi Gedalia Meyer's Weekly Torah Study

Before the creation of man and before the calling into existence of light, just after the initial burst of creation, when darkness was “upon the surface of the deep,” “G-d’s spirit hovered over the surface of the waters.” What was G-d’s spirit and how is it a force in our lives?

Watch the video

WHERE LIFE IS SACRED, the DEAD are TOO!

The answer is found in this week’s parsha that man was created in the image of G-d, and we each have a Godly soul, so holy that it hallows even the temporary body which houses it. Yes, Judaism is meant to be a Light to the Nations, and here is just another case where the State of Israel is influencing mankind to respect even the dead (KAL VACHOMER the LIVING!). Similarly Israel has by far the highest birthrate of any western country, for again this week’s parsha commands man from the very start: as G-d just finished creating the world, and commands us in the first mitzva: p’ru u’rvu: you are meant to also copy G-d (Imitateo Dei, in His image), and should also create worlds, by having children.

Conversations:

Gidon Ariel and Alan Latta - October 30, 2023

Gidon and Alan, discussing their faith, shared stories and worked on a project to light up a church in remembrance of Kristallnacht. They also debated the war, with Gidon sharing his experiences giving lectures about it on TV stations.

Watch here!

Comments

We get so many comments!
Here is one from Donald on Beha’alotcha blog post:

"I am always excited to be learning more and more of the roots of my faith. Weekly, if not daily you send into my Inbox information that blesses and enlightens. Thank you. May the God of peace Himself bless you and make you entirely pure and devoted to Him in all your endeavors."

Jordan Valley , Israel

Enjoy this photo in Jordan Valley, Israel by Eddie & Carolina Stigson

Blessings and Shalom,
Bob and Gidon

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