If Noah were running for Congress...

October 29, 8:46 AMSpiritual Life ExaminerRabbi Ben Kamin

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Opinion was mixed about Noah, the fellow who built the ark, even before he became a candidate. In the first place, he was recorded in the Bible as being “the most righteous in his generation.” That’s either saying a whole lot or very little.

This was the generation that was so miserable, so corrupt, so utterly brutal that God made the painful decision to wipe away the earth with a flood. There wasn’t one redeeming quality in that global heap of human squalor—and Noah’s the best one? That may not say a whole lot about the man, other than the fact that he stood out among a bunch of complete derelicts. Come to think of it, this may make him an outstanding candidate for the current Congress.

Noah had no natural ethnic following for the tracking polls to evaluate. He was neither a Jew nor a Christian—this was before either religion had developed. Basically, Noah was a pagan that God chose for God’s own reasons. So, since we don’t have any faith issues that would be fair game, and since he did do what God told him to do (construct the ark), Noah probably pulls ahead in this general category as well.

On the other hand, the Bible indicates that Noah was out there for many years, in the open, visible and available for CNN or Fox News interviews, building the ark. At no time, even as curiosity seekers looked on, and likely asked him, “Say, fella, what are you doing and why?” did Noah mention the looming calamity. He didn’t even try to convert any of the riff-raff to mend their ways and thus avert the coming flood. Politically correct—probably another plus for the busy man.

But wait: When God apprised Noah that “the end of flesh was coming,” and instructed him to build an ark, there’s no record of Noah even protesting. Nothing like, “What do you mean you’re going to destroy the earth?” Basically, what he said was, “OK, what are the measurements you’d prefer for the structure, God?” Abraham would argue with God when God announced the imminent demolition of two wretched cities—Sodom and Gomorrah—just in case there were a few good people to be found. Moses would argue with God when God told him atop Sinai that the people below had constructed a Golden Calf and would be annihilated. “Forget it, God,” was Moses’ basic response.  And then, appealing to public opinion, he added: “What will the Egyptians say?” Men and women throughout the Bible fight for humanity, from Moses to Deborah to Jesus.

So it seems that Noah didn’t make any controversial statements and that he followed the party line. Shoo-in.

This is the first in a short series till Election Day.

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