Page 107 - BERESHIT

man of the earth). This change of character is quite puzzling. Even
stranger is the lack of description of Avraham Avinu. He is mentioned
without any titles, yet becomes the Father of our nation.

David Hamelech urges his son Shlomo to become a man. David refers

Shlomo to the first pasuk in Tehillim where he elaborates on the qualities

of the as the one continuously striving to grow in his service of

Hashem.

The difference between Noach and Avraham lay in their approach to life.
Noach chose to live without hardship or sacrifices, content with his
tranquil existence. One who doesn’t climb the mountain of Divine service
eventually slides down its steep slope. Avraham was constantly advancing,
as hinted by the words, “Go forth.” He was always walking further, never
relying on past achievements. This is what made him into the Patriarch of
the Jewish nation.

Similarly we find by Yaakov Avinu, who wanted to desist from further
spiritual growth, that Hashem sent him the episode of Yosef’s abduction
to spur him on. Tzaddikim don’t rest in this world as their job is never
finished. Their Divine service is one of constant effort to do Hashem’s
will.

Chazal say that on the day that Noach planted a vine, it grew grapes and
he sampled its wine. The Maharil Diskin asks that such fruits should be
forbidden as they are orlah. He answers that a vineyard planted for public
use does not have the status of orlah according to some authorities. The
Even Yisrael counters that there were no other families alive at the time
so it could not be classified as public property. His answer is that Noach,
upon witnessing the miraculous growth of the vine, reasoned that the laws
of orlah did not apply to it.

The Gemara asks why the earlier generations merited having miracles
whereas the later generations did not. The Gemara explains that the earlier
generations made tremendous sacrifices for Hashem and His Torah. They
in turn saw Divine Providence and had miraculous intervention. Later
generations lacked such fervor in their service of Hashem. The road to