21 Oct PARSHA IN PRACTICE: SKILLS FOR BETTER LIVING – NOACH – DON’T SHOOT THE MESSENGER

How can we
“extend a hand”
even when we are
frustrated?
After the conclusion of the Flood,
Noach needed a way to determine
how far the waters had receded. Enter
the dove. Or more precisely, exit
the dove. Noach was hopeful that it
would find a place to land, indicating
that it was safe for him to disembark.
Much to Noach’s dismay, however,
the dove quickly returned, and its
message was evident: The coast is not
yet clear. The pasuk concludes that
Noach stretched out his arm to bring
the dove back into the ark (Bereishis
8:9), before waiting seven days to try
again.
The last clause of the verse seems
unnecessary. The pasuk need only

have mentioned that the bird
returned to the boat; why emphasize
that Noach extended a hand to
receive it?
The Netziv has a remarkable
explanation. Consider that, at this
time, Noach had been cooped up in
the ark for nearly a year – with his
family, and every species of animal
known to mankind. Surely, by now,
he was getting antsy, and was more
than desperate to get off his boat,
enjoy the fresh air, and soak in
some rainbows. Given his extreme
levels of restlessness, imagine how
disappointed and frustrated he must
have felt when he saw the messenger
make a quick U-turn and “return to
sender.” How much longer would he
have to remain trapped aboard this
floating prison?! Think how natural

it would have been for Noach
to take out his aggravation on
the dove, the bearer of this
terrible news.
And yet, Noach found a way
to overcome this impulse.
According to the Netziv, this
is exactly what the end of the
verse is emphasizing. Despite
the fact that the dove was unable to
complete its mission, Noach still
extended a warm hand to welcome
it back. By symbol of his open arms,
he showed the dove that he would
be understanding, rather than
critical. He chose to thank the bird
for its efforts, rather than shoot the
messenger.
There is an important lesson here.
How often do we take out our
frustrations on those who are simply

relaying the information, or on those
who just happen to be nearby? The
tendency to do so increases tenfold
at the end of a long day, or when we
are juggling various life stressors. By
showing appreciation for the efforts
and good qualities of others, we
can avoid misdirecting anger and
blame their way. It is especially when
our patience is spread thin that we
must remember – like Noach – that
there is no justification to shoot the
messenger.