Daily Aliya for Chaye Sarah, Shvii (7th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: The descendants of Yishmael are now enumerated. Yishmael is identified fully as the son of Avraham and Hagar the Egyptian maiden of Sara who bore Yishmael to Avraham. This is quite parallel to the description of Yitzchak's connection to Avraham as stated in the beginning of next week's Parsha. This might further indicate Yishmael's Teshuva in his later years.

It is noteworthy that Yishmael fathered twelve sons, not like Yitzchak, but like Yaakov. Yishmael dies at the age of 100 and 30 and 7 years. The wording in the Torah purposely parallels that which was used to describe Sara's lifespan, a further indication (perhaps) of the change for the better in Yishmael. Rashi says that the age of Yishmael is included to help us compute the chronology of Yaakov.

Daily Aliya for Chaye Sarah, Shishi (6th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Avraham remarried and fathered several more children. Before his death, however, Avraham gave gifts to his other children and sent them all away, and bequeathed all the rest of his possessions to Isaac. Abraham died at the age of 175, and was buried by Isaac and Ishmael in the cave of Machpela beside his wife, Sarah.

To honor the memory and legacy of his father, Ishmael allowed Isaac to take the lead, understanding that the future of the Jewish people would come from him. That deferral was important to Avraham, and the Gemara deduces is the reason why Avraham lived to a "good" old age. Making peace with family and friends doesn't just affect the parties directly involved, but those around us/them. This aspect of forgiveness is often overlooked, especially while conflict exists. Sometimes only once we resolve conflict do we really see who we were hurting all along.

Daily Aliya for Chaye Sarah, Chamishi (5th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Rivka's family celebrates the engagement together with Avraham's servant. Next morning, the servant insisted on immediately returning to his master with the maiden in hand, and after Rivka agreed, the two set out for Canaan. Isaac married Rivka, loved her, and finally found consolation for the loss of his mother.

The Medrash says that the day Rivka was brought to Yitzchak, he was busy bringing Hagar to Avraham so that he should marry her. Is it a coincidence that he was helping his father with something that he himself then received help with? Or is this a message that if you want help, you should be involved in helping others?

Daily Aliya for Chaye Sarah, Revii (4th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Rivka ran to tell her family about the man at the well, and her brother, Lavan, went out, greeted the servant, and invited him to spend the night. The servant told Rivka's family the purpose of his mission to the city, and recounted the heavenly sign that designated Rivka as his master's son's wife. Rivka's family agreed that the match was divinely ordained, and consented to the proposed match.

It's interesting to note that in this Aliya the Torah recaps Eliezer recapping the day's events to Lavan and Betuel. We were told of Eliezer's plans before they happened, the events themselves were written, and now we get a recap of a recap. Rashi mentions a teaching from Rabbi Acha, who said: "The ordinary conversation of the servants of the Patriarchs is more beloved before the Omnipresent than the Torah of their sons, for the section dealing with Eliezer is repeated in the Torah, whereas many fundamentals of the Torah were given only through allusions." In fact, some of Eliezer's words are used in the "Hineni" tefilla recited every Rosh Hashana/Yom Kippur. There is so much for us to learn from the respect and commitment that Eliezer handled himself with.

Daily Aliya for Chaye Sarah, Shlishi (3rd Aliya)

Aliya Summary: The servant (Eliezer) set out for his master's homeland and evening time found him beside the city well. He prayed for success in his mission, and asked for a heavenly sign to confirm his choice of a girl for Isaac. He would ask a maiden for a drink of water, and the one who would answer: "Certainly, and I'll also give your camels to drink as well," would be the proper choice for Isaac. Immediately a young lady approached and in response to the servant's request for a drink, she offered to give his camels to drink too. Upon questioning her, he discovered that she was Avraham's great-niece, Rivka.

When Eliezer saw that Rivka offered to give the camels water, the Passuk says that he was "astonished at her". Why was he so astonished? Was it her kindness? If anything, Eliezer knew all about kindness, having devoted himself so completely to fulfilling his master's wishes that the story doesn't even include his name! Maybe what was so astonishing about Rivka is that she was so kind despite her surroundings (living with Lavan), while Eliezer was kind because of his surroundings (living with Avraham). Either way, there are always new ways to be kind to others, as both people in this Aliya prove.

Daily Aliya for Chaye Sarah, Sheni (2nd Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Having acquired the land, Avraham buried Sarah in the Cave of Machpela. At this point, Avraham summoned his servant and charged him with the mission of finding a suitable wife for his son Isaac. Avraham had his servant swear that he would not take a wife for Isaac from the local Canaanite women. Instead, he asked him to travel to Aram, his native land, and find a wife for Isaac there.

When the field of Ephron was acquired by Avraham, the Passuk says that it was "established" ("vayakam"). But the hebrew word also means "it was elevated", as Rashi explains, from being owned by Ephron to being owned by Avraham. But it was also raised in stature by its new use, being an object used for a Mitzvah. Just like objects such as this land/cave can be elevated by using them for good things, we too can elevate ourselves and our existence by performing good deeds.

Daily Aliya for Chaye Sarah, Rishon (1st Aliya)

General Overview: In this week's Torah reading, Chaye Sarah, Sarah dies and Avraham purchases the Cave of Machpela as a burial plot for his wife. Avraham's servant travels to Aram to find a wife for Isaac. Isaac marries Rebecca. Avraham dies.

Aliya Summary: Sarah died at the age of 127, and her grieving husband Avraham identified a plot in the city of Chevron that he wished to procure for use as a family burial ground. This plot, a cave situated in the Machpela field, belonged to Ephron the Hittite, so Avraham approached the Hittite tribe and asked for permission to purchase the parcel of land. Originally Ephron wished to give the plot to Avraham as a gift, but after Avraham insisted on paying full price the acquisition was concluded with Avraham paying 400 premium silver coins.

Daily Aliya for Vayeira, Shvii (7th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: G‑d commanded Avraham to take Isaac and offer him as a sacrifice on a mountain. Avraham took along Isaac and necessary provisions, and set out for the mountain. They arrived and Avraham built the altar and bound Isaac. As Avraham stretched out his hand to take the slaughtering knife, an angel ordered him to desist. Avraham offered a ram, which was caught in a nearby thicket, in lieu of his son. G‑d promised Avraham great blessings as a reward for passing this difficult test. After these events, Avraham was notified that his sister-in-law had given birth to children. One of these children, Betuel, was the father of Rebecca, Isaac's future wife.

G-d said: "Take your son, your only, whom you love..." It would have been easier for Avraham to carry out G-d's command to sacrifice Yitzchak, if he (Avraham) could have somehow suppressed his feelings of love for his son. The "greatness" of this test of Avraham's faith is that he was willing to sacrifice his son, his only one, his beloved (Chidushei HaRim).

Daily Aliya for Vayeira, Shishi (6th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Avimelech approached Avraham and requested to enter into a treaty with him, whereby neither party will harm the other for three generations. Avraham agreed, but reprimanded Avimelech concerning a well of water which he had dug which was stolen by Avimelech's subjects. Avraham set apart seven ewes, telling Avimelech to take them as a testimony that he, Avraham, dug the well. Avraham planted an orchard and established an inn in Beer Sheba and proclaimed the name of G‑d to all passersby.

Avraham plants an "Eshel" in Be'er Sheva. In addition to being a type of tree, the word Eshel is an acronym of the Hebrew words for Food, Drink, and Lodgings (or Food, Sleeping, Escort) - the symbol of hospitality for all generations. With these trees, Avraham was literally and figuratively planting the seeds of Chesed for the future, and in our minds.

Daily Aliya for Vayeira, Chamishi (5th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Isaac grew, and Sarah noticed that Ishmael, Isaac's older half-brother, was a potentially negative influence on her young child. She demanded of Avraham to expel Ishmael, along with his mother Hagar, from the household. Despite Avraham's initial misgivings, G‑d tells him: "Whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her voice!" Hagar and Ishmael wandered in the desert and eventually ran out of water. Ishmael was about to perish from thirst when an angel "opened Hagar's eyes" and showed her a well of water. Ishmael grew up in the desert and became a skilled archer.

The Gemara explains that although Ishmael was destined to do evil things to do the Jews, G-d saved him now because he was not yet evil, which by definition meant that he had the opportunity to stay righteous. That's why the Passuk says "G-d has heard the lad's voice in the place where he is." Where he was THEN, not where he will be. This is one of the 13 Attributes of Mercy (the very first): Giving us a chance to do the right thing, where He knows we'll take it or not.

Daily Aliya for Vayeira, Revii (4th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: G‑d rained fire and sulfur on Sodom, and then overturned the entire region. Lot's wife looked back, and was transformed into a pillar of salt. Lot and his daughters took shelter in a cave. Assuming that the entire world was destroyed, Lot's daughter's intoxicated their father with wine, and seduced him – in order to repopulate the world. They each gave birth to a son – the antecedents of the Ammonite and Moabite nations. Avraham relocated to the Philistine city of Gerar. Avimelech, the king of the Philistines, took Sarah – who was presented as Avraham's sister – to his palace. G‑d afflicted the members of Avimelech's palace with a disease, and appeared to Avimelech in a dream warning him to return Sarah to her husband, Avraham. Avimelech obeyed, and also showered Avraham and Sarah with gifts, and he and his household were healed. Sarah conceived, and at the age of ninety gave birth to a son, who was named Isaac. Avraham circumcised Isaac when he was eight days old.

Avraham's having prayed on behalf of Avimelech for children is juxtaposed to Sarah conceiving. Our Sages teach us that selflessly praying for others can sometimes result in the same prayers being answered for yourself.

Daily Aliya for Vayeira, Shlishi (3rd Aliya)

Aliya Summary: The angels arrived in Sodom, and Lot invited them to his home to eat and rest. Word of Lot's guests spread throughout the city – a city that abhorred all acts of kindness – and the incensed residents of Sodom surrounded Lot' house, with intent to assault the guests. Lot refused the demands that he surrender his guests, and – as the Sodomites prepared to break down the door – the angels struck all those surrounding the house with blindness. The angels informed Lot of their mission, and encouraged him to flee. Lot, his wife, and two of his daughters were escorted out of the city to safety, and were warned not to look back as the city was being destroyed.

The word "and he lingered" is read with the rare cantillation mark (trup), the shalshellet, which musically emphasizes the reluctance of Lot to believe and to leave. In contrast, the same word is used in describing the haste with which the Children of Israel left Egypt at G-d's command, symbolized by the matzah which they hastily baked, rather than waiting for the dough to rise and produce a "proper " bread, thus demonstrating their faith and confidence in G-d. Just another example of the many hidden pearls of lessons in the Torah.

Daily Aliya for Vayeira, Sheni (2nd Aliya)

Aliya Summary: The angels departed, with Avraham escorting them on their journey. Their destination: the Sodom region; their mission: to destroy the five cities of the region, and rescue Lot (Avraham's nephew) and his family, who resided there. G‑d informed Avraham of His intention to destroy Sodom because of the great evil of its inhabitants. Avraham attempted to save the region, asking that it be spared if it contains fifty righteous people. When it was apparent that this was not the case, Avraham "bargains" with G‑d – eventually asking Him to spare Sodom even if there are only ten righteous individuals there, but even ten were not to be found.

When negotiating with G-d, Avraham's expression of humility before G-d is "and I am dust and ash". The Gemara says that because of Avraham's humility his children merited two mitzvot - the ash of the Para Aduma and the dust of the Sota. While the ashes remove the impurity of touching the dead, the (Sota) dust can create life (if proven innocent). Thus, Avraham's humility in dealing with G-d affects the full gamut of Jewish life and death, underscoring the importance of humility and respect. 

Daily Aliya for Vayeira, Rishon (1st Aliya)

General Overview: In this week's Torah reading, Vayeira, angels visit Avraham and Sarah, informing them that Sarah would give birth to a child despite her advanced age. The angels whisk Lot and his daughters out of Sodom, and overturn and destroy the entire region. Avimelech, king of the Philistines, attempts to make Sarah part of his harem, but through divine intervention she is released unharmed. Isaac is born and Ishmael is expelled from Avraham's household. Avraham makes a peace treaty with Avimelech. The story of the "Binding of Isaac" is recounted – Isaac's "near-sacrifice" experience.

Aliya Summary: G‑d paid Avraham a visit (as he recovered from his Bris), as he sat at the entrance of his tent. Avraham suddenly noticed three travelers passing by, and ran to invite them into his home. These passersby, who were actually angels in human disguise, accepted the invitation, and Avraham and Sarah prepared a sumptuous feast for them. The angels informed Avraham that Sarah would give birth to a child exactly one year later. Eighty-nine-year-old, post-menopausal Sarah, who was standing nearby, heard this assurance, and laughed. G‑d was displeased with Sarah's lack of faith.

Daily Aliya for Lech Lecha, Shvii (7th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: G‑d sealed a covenant with Avraham and his descendants; the sign of the covenant is the circumcision of all males when they are eight days old. Sarai's name is changed to Sarah, and G‑d promises a delighted Abraham that he will father another son, this time from Sarah. At the age of 99, Abraham circumcised himself, his son Ishmael, and all the members of his household.

When Avraham finds out that he will have a son, Yitzchak, he laughs. Sarah laughed too, but her laughter was one of disbelief, while Avraham's was one of happiness. It's interesting to note that Yitzchak was named so because of Avraham's reaction, not Sarah's.

Daily Aliya for Lech Lecha, Shishi (6th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Avram requested a sign from G‑d that his descendants would inherit the land of Canaan. G‑d responded in the famous "Covenant Between the Parts." Avram and the Divine Presence passed between an assortment of halved animals, and G‑d told Avram that his descendants would be exiled and in bondage for four hundred years. At the conclusion of this period, Avram's descendants would leave with great wealth, G‑d would punish the nations which enslaved them, and Avram's children would inherit the lands of Canaan. Following this pact, Sarai -- seeing that she and Avram were still childless -- suggested that Avram father a child with her Egyptian maid, Hagar. Hagar conceived and began to mistreat her mistress Sarai, who responded with a heavy hand, prompting Hagar to flee. Hagar encountered an angel who encouraged her to return to Sarai, promising her that the child she will bear will become a great nation. She obeyed, and gave birth to Ishmael. At the very end of this section, G‑d added the letter hey to Avram's name, making it "Avraham."

This Aliya features classic struggles. Sara struggles with her shortcoming when her handmaid, Hagar, gives birth before her, and drives Hagar to flee (and return at the behest of G-d). Avraham struggles with is feelings of inadequacy when he finds out that he's not perfect in G-d's eyes because he isn't circumcised (he fixes that right away). It's very telling that Avraham gets his name "improved" before Sara does, probably as a subtle lesson to Sara for not dealing with her issues appropriately.

Daily Aliya for Lech Lecha, Chamishi (5th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Avram rebuffed the king of Sodom's wish to award him with all the war's spoils. When G‑d reassured Avram that he would be greatly rewarded for his righteousness, Avram broaches his childlessness. "What is the point of all the reward and wealth," Avram cried, "if I have no heir to inherit it?!" G‑d assured Avram that he will indeed have a child, and promised that Avram's descendants will be as numerous as the stars of the heaven.

Why did Avraham refuse to accept anything from the king of Sodom, but he became very wealthy from that which he accepted from Paroh? Commentaries say that Avraham was setting the stage for the fulfillment of G-d's promise to the descendants of Avraham, that they would leave the country of their exile and oppression with great wealth. Hence, there was a purpose to accept the gifts from Paroh, and no reason to accept those of the king of Sodom (and therefore be obligated to him on any level).

Daily Aliya for Lech Lecha, Revii (4th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: The southern region of Canaan was embroiled in a major war involving many kings. When the dust settled, the victorious kings took captive all the inhabitants of the Sodom region -- Lot included. When Avram was informed of Lot's plight he rushed to the rescue along with a handful of men, engaged the victorious kings in battle, soundly defeated them, released all the captives and returned all the spoils.

Some ironic mentions: 1) One of the four winning kings was Shem, one of Noach's sons; 2) Another one of the four winning kings was Nimrod, who had thrown Avram into the fire to prove that he was a man of G-d; 3) Avram was informed of Lot's plight by Og, who Medrash says was the only person outside the ark to have survived the flood by hanging on to it (symbolic of his regret for any wrong-doings?) ; 4) The main battle took place in Ein Mishpat, so named because it was where Moshe and Aaron would be judged for hitting the rock when the Jews needed water. Is there a connection between Og's actions? What was it about Ein Mishpak that so many things happened around it? These are not coincidences, but many of the mysteries of these people, places and events are still unknown to us. Still, we do know that there's a reason for all of it, which should help us perform to those laws that we don't (yet) understand.

Daily Aliya for Lech Lecha, Shlishi (3rd Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Lot, who had accompanied Avram and Sarai, was independently wealthy. When Lot's shepherds quarreled with Avram's shepherds, the two parted ways, with Lot settling in the province of Sodom, which was renowned for its evil inhabitants. After Lot departed, G‑d spoke to Avram again, reiterating His promise to bequeath the land to his descendants, and promising to make his descendants numerous as the soil of the earth.

One commentary says that although Avraham knew that his spirituality was compromised by Lot's presence, he nonetheless did not chase Lot away until he had no choice. Avraham felt a moral obligation to take care of Lot (including saving him after they parted) even though he knew that G-d was "keeping His distance" with Lot around. Is hospitality more important than receiving the Divine Presence? It seems that way.

Daily Aliya for Lech Lecha, Sheni (2nd Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Because of her beauty, Sarai was taken captive and brought to Pharaoh. G‑d struck the members of Pharaoh's palace with a plague, causing Pharaoh to hastily release Sarai. Pharaoh loaded Avram and Sarai with gifts and riches, and had them escorted out of his land. Avram returned triumphantly to Canaan.

In the same Aliya, Avram is tested by both poverty and wealth. When he was poor, he hid his only asset (Sarai) so that others aren't tempted, which is perhaps why he was worthy to gain other assets. It's a short yet powerful lesson to those seeking to gain assets and wealth.

Daily Aliya for Lech Lecha, Rishon (1st Aliya)

General Overview: Avram and Sarai travel to Canaan. Due to a famine in the land they temporarily relocate to Egypt, where Pharaoh unsuccessfully attempts to add Sarai to his harem. They return to Canaan with great wealth and Avram parts with his nephew Lot. Avram defeats the armies of the four kings who had taken his nephew Lot hostage. G‑d seals a pact with Avram, bequeathing the lands of Canaan to his descendants. Childless Avram marries Hagar and she gives birth to Ishmael. G‑d changes Avram's name to Avraham, and Sarai becomes Sarah. Avraham is circumcised at the age of 99.

Aliya Summary: G‑d commanded Avram to leave his father's house and homeland, and travel to the land that He will show him. As reward for doing so, G‑d promised to make Avram the patriarch of a great nation. Avram obeyed, taking along his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot. Once Avram arrived in Canaan, G‑d informed him that He will eventually give that land to his descendants. Avram traverses the length of the land until a famine forces him to travel to Egypt. Fearing that the Egyptians would kill him in order to take Sarai, Avram asked her to allege that he was her brother.

Daily Aliya for Noach, Shvii (7th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: This Aliya recounts the story of the Tower of Babel. Noach's descendants gathered in the Babylonian valley and started building a tower, in an attempt to reach the heavens and battle G‑d. G‑d disrupted their "plan" by causing them each to speak a different language, thus destroying their communications. This caused them to disperse and settle in different lands. The Torah then lists the ten generations of Shem's descendants. The tenth generation is Abram (later to be known as Abraham), who married Sarai (later to be known as Sarah).

Commentaries contrast the two sinful generations in this Parsha. Dor HaMabul (floor generation) was destroyed because their sins included the destruction of society by total disregard of a person for his fellow. Dor HaPlaga (tower generation) sinned against G-d alone, not against each other. In both cases, the basic tenets of creation were ignored, and it documented for us to learn from.

Daily Aliya for Noach, Shishi (6th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Noach planted a vineyard, made wine, became drunk and fell into a deep drunken slumber -- while naked. Noach's son, Cham, saw his father naked, assaulted him, and informed his two brothers of their father's state. The brothers, Shem and Yafet, modestly approached their father and covered him. When Noach awakened, he cursed Cham's son, Canaan, and blessed Shem and Yafet. This section then names Noach's seventy grandsons and great-grandsons, the antecedents of the "seventy nations," and their adopted homelands.

There are at least five different periods during which nature did not behave as we know it today:
(1) The "time" before this world - previous worlds, assuming they existed, did not necessarily have the same laws of nature; (2) the indeterminable time of B'reishit - G-d's act of Creation of something from nothing;
(3) the Six Days of Creation, during which G-d commanded things to happen, no doubt in very different ways from the nature He also created; (4) the first 1656 years of this world, throughout the ten generations from Adam to Noach, when the laws of nature also seem to differ from what we experience today,
(5) the "year" of the Flood. These "lapses" in the Rules of Nature can explain a variety of scientific issues related to time and the age of the earth... and everything in it.

Daily Aliya for Noach, Chamishi (5th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: G‑d told Noach that he is establishing a covenant to never again bring a flood to destroy the world. G‑d designated the rainbow as the sign of this covenant: "And it shall come to pass, when I cause clouds to come upon the earth, that the rainbow will appear in the cloud. And I will remember My covenant..."

Although rainbows can be explained by science, there's something so mercurial about them, and that lends itself to help bridge an understanding between G-d and all "flesh", as the Torah describes it. It's not something abstract, requires no understanding, it just needs to be seen to be understood. It's a fickle combination of colors, designed to make us stop what we're doing, look up, and hopefully remember a covenant that G-d made with us. Of course if G-d wanted to get rid of us there are many other ways, but the point is that we have an unbreakable bond with Him, and the gentle rainbow is meant to remind us of that, so we stop what we're doing, look up high, and hopefully start thinking even higher.

Daily Aliya for Noach, Revii (4th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: G‑d commanded Noach to leave the teivah, along with all his fellow teivah-mates. Noach built an altar and offered sacrifices. This pleased G‑d, who then promised to never again curse the earth as He had just done. Instead, the regular seasons (which had not functioned during the year of the mabul) would continue perpetually. G‑d then blessed Noach and his sons: "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth." G‑d allowed mankind to eat meat, but prohibited murder, suicide, and the consumption of a limb ripped from a living animal.

What changed? Now that G-d enacted a "do-over", the changes are that there will now be seasons, basic laws must be followed, and man must procreate. The theme? Structure. Without rules and structure everything falls apart, and seasons and basic laws help facilitate a natural order of things. And having kids? Not only is having children a structured event, but raising them requires even more structure and discipline. Only after we work out our own issues by dealing with seasons and laws, we can then continue to bring new life to the world.

Daily Aliya for Noach, Shlishi (3rd Aliya)

Aliya Summary: The torrential rains lasted for forty days and nights. The waters rose to great heights and covered even the highest mountains, killing all humans and animals; everything died aside for Noach and the other occupants of the teivah. After the waters raged on the earth another 150 days, G‑d caused the waters to subside. The teivah eventually rested on the Ararat Mountains, and shortly thereafter the mountain peaks came into view. Noach opened the window of the teivah and dispatched birds to see whether it was time to leave the teivah. First he sent a raven, which refused to execute its mission and just circled the ark. He then sent out a dove. On its second attempt the dove went and did not return, signaling that the earth was once again habitable. After one full year in the teivah, the earth had dried.

Commentators explain that G-d's anger subsided and turned into mercy because of Noach's prayers. Apparently, prayer has a soothing effect on G-d, something not overlooked by future traditions, but this could have been the seed and blueprint for the prayers that have evolved since.

Daily Aliya for Noach, Sheni (2nd Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Of kosher animals and birds, Noach was commanded to take seven pairs of each species (as opposed to one pair of all other species). Noach, his family, and the required animals boarded the teivah and the mabul began: "The springs of the great depths burst forth and the windows of the heavens opened."

The Talmud (in Pesachim) points to G-d's instructions to take "Animals that are Tahor (i.e. Kosher) and those that are not Tahor", as a lesson in speaking with a "clean" language, i.e. not vulgar. The Torah could have used the word TAMEI (unclean) but chose a longer periphrasis to use more pleasant terms. Commentaries ask, if this is so, how come the Torah uses the word TAMEI in many other contexts. The answer is, that when the Torah is setting down Mitzva and Halacha, it must use straightforward terms to avoid any possible confusion. When recounting a story (and for us, whenever possible) it is preferable to use more polite language.

Daily Aliya for Noach, Rishon (1st Aliya)

General Overview: In this week's reading, Noach, Noach 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 Noach's descendants. Abraham and Sarah are born.

Aliya Summary: While society as a whole descended into a state of anarchy and utter corruption, only Noach remained righteous and faithful to G‑d's ways. Noach was informed by G‑d that a mabul ("flood") will soon destroy all of civilization, and only Noach and his immediate family would survive in a teivah ("ark," boat) that he was to build. G‑d gave Noach the exact dimensions of the teivah he was to build, and commanded Noach 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.