Noach (Noah) 6:9

1st Aliya

These are the offspring of Noah--Noah was a righteous man, perfect in his generations; Noah walked with G-d.

The Torah teaches us that the Hebrew word for "chronicles" is Toledoth (תולדת), which often denotes "offspring." In a sense the Torah changes the subject, first saying, "These are Noah's offspring," and then speaking about Noah was "righteous" and "faultless" that he had any surviving children. His very righteousness was thus considered his offspring. Second, since he repopulated the entire world, he himself was considered as if were many people. The people who lived during the first ten generations were called the "children of Adam." after this, mankind is referred to as "the children of Noah." Noah had the merit to escape the flood and to repopulate the entire world.

Noach (Noah) 7:1

2nd Aliya

Then HaShem said to Noah, "Come to the Ark, you and all your household, for it is you that I have seen to be righteous before Me in this generation.

The Torah teaches us that after 120 years, G-d spoke to Noah again, now telling him to go into the Ark. When G-d spoke to Noah, He used much less praise that the Torah used previously. Earlier, the Torah said, "Noah was a righteous man, flawless in his generation; Noah walked with G-d." When G-d is speaking to him, however, He only calls him "righteous," and no more.

Noach (Noah) 7:17

3rd Aliya

When the Flood was on the earth forty days, the waters increased and raised the Ark so that it was lifted above the earth.

The Torah teaches us that the Ark was exceptional heavy and large, and when the flood began, it remained sitting on the ground. It was not until the water was 11 cubits deep (approximately 20 feet) that the Ark rose up from the ground. It was like a heavy laden ship, which floats deeply in the water, and cannot go in shallow water. During the initial forty days of the Great Flood, the Ark did not leave its place. It was only after the waters began to swell even higher that the Ark began to drift.

Noach (Noah) 8:15

4th Aliya

G-d spoke to Noah, saying, "Go forth from the Ark; you and your wife, your sons, and your sons' wives with you.

The Torah teaches us that one may ask logical question here: Since they were in the Ark only because of the flood, why did they have to wait for permission to leave? Why did G-d have to tell them to leave the Ark once the land was dry? It is here G-d was actually giving them permission to engage in martial relations once again. For this they needed permission even though, logically, it should be permitted. Martial relations were forbidden while in the Ark only  because the world was in agony. But now that the flood was over, they should certainly be permitted, especially since the reason Noah had brought along so many species was able to replenish the world. Despite all this, they could not begin without explicit permission. Once G-d had commanded that males and females remain separated, they had to do so until He specifically allowed them to mate.

Noach (Noah) 9:8

5th Aliya

And G-d said to Noah and to his sons with him saying: "And as for Me, behold I establish My covenant with you and with your offspring after you..."

The Torah teaches us that G-d promised Noah that He would never again cause a flood to destroy mankind and creatures of the earth. G-d spoke to Noah, saying, "I have already promised this to you. But now I will give you a sign to put your mind at ease, so you will not be concerned.  I will produce this sign when the Attribute of Justice denounces the world and argues that it should be destroyed once again, because people are wicked. The world will then begin to be covered with dark clouds, and the skies will turn black. Then, suddenly, the rainbow will appear. The Attribute of Justice will then remember G-d's oath never again to cause a universal flood, and this Attribute will remain still. When a rainbow appears, it is a sign that the people are wicked, and deserve to be wiped out.

Noach (Noah) 9:18

6th Aliya

The sons of Noah who came out of the Ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth; Ham being the father of Canaan.

The Torah teaches us that Noah and his sons emerged from the Ark whole and healthy. It is impossible to imagine the suffering they experienced in the Ark, but they survived. Although the Torah has already named Noah's sons, it repeats that they "emerged from the Ark," and names them again. This indicates that they left the Ark in peace. It was these three sons who re-populated the earth.

Noach (Noah) 11:1

7th Aliya

The whole earth was of one language and of common purpose.

The Torah teaches us that in the year 1996 (1764 b.c.e.) a great tragedy occurred. The Great Flood occurred in the year 1656 (2107 b.c.e.). We learn that the Tower of Babel was built a mere 340 years after the Great Flood. G-d complained to the builders of the Tower: "You all know of the tragedy of the Great Flood. In such a short time, how could you forget?" This generation did not learn a lesson from previous times, from the generation of Enoch and the generation of the Great Flood, who were wiped out for their sins. The generations following the Great Flood showed as little gratitude as Adam. Instead of thanking HaShem for allowing them to live, and for their ancestors who survived the flood, they still rebelled against HaShem. The same was true of the generation that built the Tower. Even though barely 340 years had passed since the Great Flood, they had forgotten their pain, and were sinning again. Even though people started sinning right after the Great Flood, the merit of Shem protected them, and G-d gave them a chance. The numerical value of Shem (שם) is 340.

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