Every year when we read The Portion of Noah, I find myself thinking about what it means to start again. Noah wasnāt just a man who survived a flood; he was chosen to rebuild civilization from nothing. Starting again is terrifying. And yet, as Rabbi Aaron Feigenbaum teaches in his course on Bible Plus, that moment of fear is exactly where responsibility begins.
The portion of Noah stretches from Genesis 6 through 11, moving from destruction to covenant, from chaos to renewal. The world has become filled with violence and corruption, and God decides to begin again. He tells Noah, a righteous man in his generation, to build an ark that will protect his family and two of every living creature. For forty days and forty nights, the heavens open and the waters rise until every trace of the old world disappears.
When the rain finally stops, Noah waits. He sends a raven, then a dove, searching for a sign that the earth can once again sustain life. At last, the dove returns with an olive branch in its beak, a simple message that the flood has ended and that renewal is possible. Yet Noah hesitates to leave the ark. After seeing such devastation, how can he step into a world so empty and unknown? Rabbi Feigenbaum points out that God actually has to command him:
In other words, do not stay hidden in safety. The time has come to rebuild.
That hesitation feels deeply human. Anyone who has endured loss knows the fear of starting over. Noahās story reminds us that survival is not the end of faith; it is the beginning of responsibility. Once the ark rests on Mount Ararat, Noahās first act is to build an altar:
Rabbi Feigenbaum notes that the Torah does not tell us what kind of offering this was. Was Noah seeking forgiveness? Expressing gratitude? Likely both. He stands between grief and thanksgiving, saying to God, āIām sorry for what humanity became,ā and also, āthank You for allowing us to begin again.ā In that moment, Noah becomes the bridge between judgment and mercy, between the world that was and the world that can be.
God responds with covenant. He promises never again to destroy all life and sets a sign in the sky, a rainbow, as a reminder of His enduring relationship with humanity. God also reaffirms the sanctity of life, granting humankind stewardship over animals but prohibiting the shedding of human blood. The message is clear: dominion over creation does not mean domination over one another. Power, in the biblical sense, is always bound to moral restraint.
Still, the human heart remains complicated. The Torah tells how Noah later plants a vineyard, becomes drunk, and is humiliated by his son Ham. His other sons, Shem and Japheth, cover their fatherās shame with respect and discretion. Blessing and curse flow from that episode, setting the pattern for generations to come. Even after moments of grace, we see that righteousness is fragile. The story is not about perfection but about learning how to act rightly when others fail.
At the close of the portion, humanity tries once more to build, this time not an ark but a tower. The builders of the Tower of Babel say, āLet us make a name for ourselves.ā The project is grand, and their motives are unclear. Were they seeking fame? Unity? Defiance? God scatters them, confusing their language. The story is brief but puzzling, and Rabbi Feigenbaum draws on the medieval commentator Ibn Ezra to make sense of it. Ibn Ezra writes, āThis was not Godās plan, but they did not know it.ā
It is a striking line. Not every disruption, Ibn Ezra teaches, is punishment. Sometimes God changes our plans because He has His own. That perspective transforms the story: Babelās scattering is not a rejection of humanity but a redirection. God expands human potential by forcing people to grow beyond one place, one language, one tower.
That idea lingers long after the portion ends. When our plans crumble, when life shifts unexpectedly, it doesnāt always mean we have failed. It may mean that God is moving us toward something we cannot yet see. Our task is not to predict His plan but to walk faithfully in it, using the creative power He has entrusted to us to build, to repair, and to begin again.
Learning from Noah Today
The portion of Noah is not ancient history; it is a mirror. It shows us that we are heirs to Noahās covenant: capable of destruction, yes, but also of renewal. Each of us carries the same question God placed before Noah: What will you build with the life you have been given?
Thatās what I love about studying with Bible Plus, our online Bible-study platform. Rabbi Feigenbaum is just one of the (many, many) scholars you will meet in the Five Books of Moses courses. Each video explores a different portion of the Torah, clear, insightful, and deeply connected to the text. This particular course follows the portion of the week – simply pick any time that works for you, open up Bible Plus on our computer, and watch the weekly portion video.
And that is only the beginning. Bible Plus also offers courses on the Prophets, the Writings, character studies, The holidays from the Bible, prayer, faith, and modern-day Israel. Whether you are a lifelong student or just beginning to explore, every lesson is designed to deepen your understanding and strengthen your connection to the Bible.
It is meaningful, affordable, and truly inspiring. When you’re ready to begin your Bible Journey, we have two subscription options: Monthly at $14.99/month or Annual at $119/year (as low as $9.99/month).
Watch Rabbi Feigenbaumās Noah course and see how the story of Noah still calls us to build, to care, and to trust that renewal is always possible.
