Parashat Noah: The main thing is the intention
Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz's Torah portion analysis for Parashat Noah examines Noah's sacrifice after the Flood as a model of sincere faith and doing good without seeking recognition. The article argues that Noah's act, performed in an empty world, represents pure intention (lishma), contrasting with his earlier efforts before the Flood. It applies this lesson to modern life, urging readers to perform good deeds without seeking social media validation.
Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz's Torah portion analysis for Parashat Noah focuses on Noah's first act after emerging from the Ark: building an altar and offering a sacrifice to God. The article argues that this act, performed in a world empty of other people, represents a pure intention (lishma) — serving God without seeking recognition or status. This contrasts with Noah's efforts before the Flood, which may have been influenced by public motives. The sacrifice, the article suggests, elicited God's promise never to destroy all life again. The piece then applies this lesson to contemporary life, warning against the tendency to measure good deeds by social media exposure and urging readers to cultivate the ability to do good without telling anyone.