Noach: Recognizing True Leadership

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Parshat Noach introduces the Torah’s first tyrant, whose story and classical commentaries offer moral clarity about the tactics of tyranny, both ancient and modern.

Between the stories of the Flood and the Tower of Babel, we encounter a few verses about Nimrod. The biblical account does not initially seem particularly harsh: “He was a mighty hunter before the Lord… The beginning of his kingdom was Babel” (Genesis 10:8–10). Yet the classical commentators portray him as the archetypal tyrant: The repeated emphasis on his might, the reference to Babel, and the association of his name with rebellion (mered) all contribute to this interpretation. Even the description of Nimrod as a hunter “before the Lord” takes on a sinister meaning.

Rashi teaches that Nimrod would “ensnare people’s minds with his words and mislead them into rebelling against God.” Nimrod emerges as a ruler who captivates people through charisma and manipulates them through rhetoric. He “hunts” people’s minds, sacrificing truth for power. The Midrash further portrays Nimrod as an instigator of the rebellion against God in the Tower of Babel story. Babel becomes a failed experiment in enforced uniformity, where collective power comes at the expense of individual freedom.

In stark contrast to Nimrod stands Abraham. Breaking with his pagan surroundings, Abraham champions difference and pursues truth even when it means standing alone. While Abraham seeks truth through reason and conviction, Nimrod demands obedience through manipulation and force.

These contrasting models offer a timeless lesson in recognizing tyranny. True leadership is measured not by power, but by how it is used. Parshat Noach teaches us how to distinguish between truth and manipulation, moral courage and coercion, and genuine unity and enforced conformity. Shabbat Shalom -Karen Miller Jackson

Parshat Lech Lecha: Hearing the Call of Good over Evil

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We hear nothing about Avraham’s faith or righteousness before God calls to him, “Lech lecha.” So why was he chosen? The midrashim fill in the story, portraying Avraham’s moral clarity and spiritual courage, yet the pshat itself offers a quieter but powerful lesson—about standing up with faith and conviction for Jews and Israel today.

Bereshit Rabbah teaches that Avraham once saw a palace in flames and cried out, “How can it be that this palace has no leader?” God replied, “I am the master of this palace.” Avraham’s faith was born through questioning, through refusing to accept a world that made no moral sense. As Rabbi Sacks zt”l wrote: “For Abraham, faith began in cognitive dissonance. There is only one way of resolving this dissonance: by protesting evil and fighting it… It is as if God were saying to Abraham: I need you to help Me to put out the flames.”

Avraham’s distinctiveness may also be alluded to when he is later called “ha-ivri,” which means “the Hebrew” or “from the other side.” One midrashic opinion explains: “The entire world stood on one side, and he on the other.” This image feels especially relevant today, reminding us to speak truth and uphold moral clarity even when it defies popular opinion.

Perhaps the plainest reason God chose Avraham was because he responded to God’s call “Lech lecha…” Avraham answers the call fully even though it involves uncertainty and sacrifice. This too, is the story of the Jewish people and their love and commitment to Israel through the ages. As the world watches the elections in New York this coming week, we can learn from Avraham about the power of each individual to stand up and voice moral clarity about good and evil. Shabbat Shalom -Karen Miller Jackson