Motivation makes a difference...

Genesis 6: 15-18

First we review the debate about how Noah was like a “tzedek en peltz” - a righteous person in a fur coat.

Rabbi Brad Artson: on God’s intolerance of evil
Rashi: about indiscriminate punishment

Violence – escalates out of control
a lesson on the need for peaceful resolution of conflict.

Then the ARK!
What is a cubit? And other Biblical measurements based on the human body!
And questions that people ask about the Ark.....
Yes it is an ‘astonishing tale’

But one of our resident engineers gave us a vivid description of how he would have had to build the ark!

A possible link of the art to Haman and the gallows.

Eli Munk on the miracle of the ark!

S. R. Hirsch – on looking at the detail instructions to Noah.

Then the big discussion: The value of a ‘good deed’ based on the motivation.

Is it better to do a mitzvah based on God’s command than spontaneously without thought or reference to this?

A look at the motivations of FREE WILL vs OBLIGATION