The Ishbitzer Rebbe says that each quality of Noah's ark specified by G-d to Noah in this week's parsha teaches us something about how to protect ourselves from G-d's anger in this world. G-d tells Noah to put the ark's door "on the side" of the ark, and not out in front. This relates, says the Ishbitzer, to the verse in Psalms that says "Seek peace and pursue it." The Midrash on this verse says, "'Seek peace' -- in your own place, 'and pursue it' -- in another place (outside of yours)."
Why only pursue peace in a place outside of yours? Says the Ishbitzer, of course it's right to seek peace between the people of your own household -- at any cost! However, it might not be appropriate to pursue peace with someone by bringing him into your house -- because he and you (not to mention the people of your household) might not genuinely be shayach (appropriate) for one another, and the opposite effect may be achieved!
The Midrash implies that we should make peace with people in their places, and not necessarily in ours. That seems to make sense -- if I'm going to help you, it should be where you need it to be, and that's not necessarily where I am at the moment. I should go to you and help you there. Likewise, peace in my household will most likely not be achieved if any old person from the outside can come in through the front door -- however, if I put the door on the side, I can be more selective about who comes in and out, and who I want to help me; therefore the peace inside my household becomes a product of my seeking.
Jerry Silverman
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Jerry Silverman is a former student of Yeshivat Bat Ayin. He is working in new media, designing and managing media projects. He lives in Riverdale, NY with his wife Sarah and their two children. |