Parashat Noach : What is a Tzadik? In memory of Rabbi Jim Michaels

Parshat Noach ~ Genesis 6:9-11:32

 

What is a Tzadik?

 

This week’s parsha begins with the words, “…Noach was a righteous man; he was blameless in his age….” (Gen 6:9). These two phrases are curious. How does “blameless in his age” impact the first description of Noach as “a righteous man”? Would he be considered righteous in other eras, like those of Avraham or Moses?

 

Initially, I was skeptical of Noach’s status as a Tzadik, a righteous man. Then I studied the writings of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, an 18th-century Hasidic master. In his book Kedushat Levi, he teaches that Tzaddikim are individuals who open paths for the world. This insight shifted my perspective and helped me see Noach as a Tzadik in his own right, without needing to compare him to others. Noach, despite the corruption of his time, managed to rise above it all and was given the task of saving the world.

 

One thing that has always puzzled me, though, is why Noach never warned anyone about the upcoming flood or gave them a chance to repent, as Jonah did in Nineveh. However, if we closely read the text in chapter 6, it doesn’t seem like God gave Noach much flexibility. God’s words were clear and direct: Noach had a specific job to do, and he did it.

 

What does it mean to be a Tzadik today? It’s difficult to recognize someone’s role in opening a path for the world. However, I believe righteousness in our time involves emulating righteous qualities. While I’m not in a position to judge who is truly righteous, we can all recognize when someone brings godliness into the world.

 

During the year I mourned my father, I encountered such a person: Rabbi Jim Michaels. He was the rabbi at the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington (now Charles E. Smith Life Communities) and became a solid presence in my life. Rabbi Jim developed a chaplaincy training program, in which I participated. He taught by example, demonstrating how to be present for those in need, how to listen to both spoken and unspoken words, and how to be attentive even to those who had lost the ability to speak.

 

Rabbi Jim was a modest man, yet he touched everyone he met with respect, care, and genuine attentiveness. His simple question, “How are you?” came with a sincerity that showed he truly cared about the answer—a rare quality. Through his actions, he showed that he had a path to walk, one that would leave the world better than he found it.

 

In our parsha, Noach may have known about the impending catastrophe yet did nothing to try help others. We, however, are called to act. We cannot be like those who built the Tower of Babel, speaking the same language but failing to truly understand one another. Their punishment—scattered languages—highlighted their inability to communicate on a deeper level.

 

If we are fortunate, we will meet individuals like Rabbi Jim Michaels who truly understand. They accompany others, listen, and provide guidance while modeling righteousness. I honor the memory of Rabbi Jim Michaels, my teacher, mentor, and friend. He would be the first to admit he wasn’t perfect, but his life impacted many because he understood that we are all created in God’s image. May his memory always be for a blessing.

  

 

In Memory of Rabbi Jim Michaels, 2024