Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Bradley Solmsen
Park Avenue Synagogue
Park Avenue Synagogue seeks to inspire, educate, and support our membership towards living passion-filled Jewish lives.
In this week’s Torah portion, Noah, we encounter the concept of covenant (brit in Hebrew) for the first time.
In Genesis 6:17-18 God explains:
“For My part, I am about to bring the Flood—waters upon the earth—to destroy all flesh under the sky in which there is breath of life; everything on earth shall perish. But I will establish My covenant with you …”
At this early moment in our narrative, we do not have much context to understand what a covenant is.
A careful reading of the text reveals that there are three important elements to this first covenant:
This covenant, perhaps all covenants, make demands in two directions. God is making a commitment and expects a commitment in return.
As a parent, this moment reminds me of how important it is to teach the concept of covenant to our children. What can we expect of God, and what does God expect of us? What are the reminders of our covenants?
We expect so much of our children and our children expect so much of us. It is important to make these expectations explicit. Let’s use this opportunity to renew the covenants we have in our own families. What do we want to promise our children, and what do our children need in return? As humans, we will need clear reminders of these covenants. As we grow, develop, and change, these covenants need to be renewed and reviewed.
Strong covenants with clear reminders are the fabric of a strong community.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Bradley Solmsen
Director of Congregational Education