Nobody believed Noah. But Abraham, some say, convinced most of his generation.
Noah talked as someone who followed a tradition of the past. Abraham described how he had discovered G‑d on his own.
Teach like Abraham.
Likutei Sichot vol. 20, pg. 13ff.
From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. Subscribe and get your dose daily. To order Rabbi Freeman’s latest book, Wisdom to Heal the Earth, click here.
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Feigue Cieplinski
Middletown
September 5, 2025
Jewish tradition has it that Noah was the wisest best person in HIS generation. That is exactly why H' told him to save himself, his family , and pairs of animals. Yet, that wickedness in the world continued existing and thus, we find then S'dom and G'morah. We don't hear Noah pleading to save others. but we do witness Abraham arguing with H' about even ten people to be saved. In other words, the ethics of Avraham Avinu is greater than that of Noah. Noah was good for his generation but surely, Avraham was a step above Noah.
Teaching both, sure, since both are in the Torah, but it is important to underscore the higher ethics that the first Patriarch displayed. Hey! he even argued with H' to save people !
Reply
Edwin Johannes Hissink
Netherlands
September 5, 2025
Without trying to be "a know it all, I would say teach both.
Teach from within the tradition, and teach from your personal perspective.
Noah taught also from how he discovered G-d. He never lost the connection. He could teach from the perspective of tradition. Abraham found the connection back on his own. Both of them could teach from tradition and from their own perspective: To have trust in the Almighty.
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Linda Gray
USA
September 5, 2025
in response to Edwin Johannes Hissink:
To Edwin, our perspectives can be deep and wide. So as far as teaching them is concerned they can be temporary and subject to change. Sometimes perspective can invite judgments when the teacher/student has had a different experience. Expressing you own perspective is the safer way.
Teaching you own seems to be too set in stone.
Reply
Kesselman
Espergærde
September 5, 2025
Your daily dose is most welcome; it gives common sense a twist and a notch up. Thank you, look forward to the heavenly dose. Reply
Adele
Jakarta
October 31, 2020
Yes indeed. My Trurh I often share with others.
Be blessed.
Reply
David Harold Chester
Petach Tikva, Israel
October 30, 2020
Are we so sick as to need daily doses of wisdom-medicine? Don't we have enough common sense to get by without this treatment? The idea of this information is to make us wise, and most people feel that their wisdom is small but sufficient for their daily needs, and that to stumble along with what they already have is better than to need to be led through unfamiliar ground.Should your decision to change this title be to "inspiration" instead of "dose" it would be better. Reply
Which one
Brooklyn
October 30, 2020
in response to David Harold Chester:
I thought it was good 👌🏽 Reply
Sylvia
UK
March 1, 2017
Flame Therefore, Abraham's (Abram) heart and mind focused on the wider picture, beyond what we see and hear. Thus, igniting the flame of love, drawing down the Shechinah. HaShem then drawing Abraham towards the truth of this world and his own purpose whilst living on earth. Discovering that our life is simply a particle of time (human knowledge)which can be either positive or negative. Reply
Anonymous
Valhalla, NY
November 2, 2009
Power on Your Own What does this mean that "...Abraham... discovered G-d on his own." Abraham knew about G-d. Abraham conversed with Him. What do you mean DISCOVERED? Reply
Yes, the people in the today's world are sick, I'm sorry to put it so bluntly, but people care less about wisdom, intelligence, understanding, knowledge then they do about having a good old time in any way possible. The world has become lost to the important issues in life. Then other generations grow with the same attitudes, all because governments, teachers, doctors, lawyers and so forth, along with parents are excluding G D, and the amazing gifts he has to give to humankind. Humankind needs triple does of WISDOM.