Gen.
6:9-11:32
Précis:
The story of Noah (Hebrew: Noach) and the Flood appear in this
parasha. Noah, called by God, builds the Ark and collects the animals. It rains
for forty days and nights. Noah and his family are saved, and afterward leave
the Ark, build an altar, and make sacrifices to God. God sets a rainbow as a
promise not to destroy mankind again. Noah plants a vineyard, makes wine, and
becomes drunk. An odd incident with sexual overtones takes place with his sons.
The story of the Tower of Babel is included in this parasha, and it ends with a
genealogy of the ancient peoples of the Bible, concluding with Abram.
Gen. 6:13 “God said to Noah, “I
have decided to put an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with
lawlessness because of them: I am about to destroy them with the earth.”
The word “lawlessness” is a common translation of the Hebrew word “hamas.”
It has also been translated as violence, wrong, cruelty, and injustice.
We are all much too familiar with another use of the word. The group known as Hamas drew
its name when formed in 1987 as an Arabic acronym for “Harakat al-Muqawamah
al-Islamiyah” (“Islamic Resistance Movement”). It chose this
acronym because an Arabic translation of the word hamas can be
zeal, justice, and bravery. It is beyond ironic that the name does not match
the horrors committed by this lawless group.
Some will cite Biblical verses as justifications for improper actions. In this
case, God’s decision to destroy mankind (and even their animals) because of “hamas”
should be a solemn reminder of the need to destroy the current holder of the
title. It is not only because of their actions against Israel and Jews, but as
is increasingly obvious, it is necessary to safeguard the lives of those
Palestinians who oppose their lawless rule.
One final thought: where are the protests and voices
of outrage against Hamas’ joyous execution of their fellow Palestinians? Crickets.
