{
  "id": 14919159,
  "title": "Parashat Noah: The main thing is the intention",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/parashat-noah-the-main-thing-is-the-intention",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T09:32:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/judaism/torah-portion/article-911826"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The story of Noah's Flood is one of the most impactful events in shaping the world and humanity. Before the Flood, the earth was created in perfection and goodness, but after Adam's sin, evil entered human experience. Humanity reached a point where violence, corruption, and lack of moral boundaries overwhelmed the world, leading to the Flood.\n\nAfter the Flood, Noah and his family were left in a desolate world, with no other humans or familiar surroundings. In this moment of devastation, Noah's first action was to build an altar to the Lord and offer burnt offerings on it. This act demonstrated Noah's acknowledgment of God's sovereignty, gratitude, and submission to the Creator.\n\nFollowing this, a divine promise was made, stating that God would never again curse the earth or destroy all life with another Flood. However, this promise also raises a question: how could a single act of Noah's have such a profound impact, given that many people rejected his warnings?\n\nThe Mishna in Tractate Makkot explains that the Holy One wished to bring merit to Israel by providing them with an abundance of Torah and commandments. Maimonides elaborates on this principle, stating that when a person fulfills a commandment purely for its own sake, out of love, they merit the World to Come. Noah's act of building an altar and offering sacrifices was performed lishma, or for its own sake, without any personal motives or worldly objectives. This act, free from any self-interest, ensured the world's continued existence and demonstrated the power of serving God without any ulterior motives.",
  "summary": "Noah’s sacrifice after the Flood offers a lesson in sincere faith and the importance of doing good without seeking recognition.",
  "key_points": [
    "Noah built an altar and offered burnt sacrifices lishma, for its own sake.",
    "God made a divine promise to never again destroy all life with a Flood.",
    "Noah's act demonstrated submission to the Creator and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Parashat Noah: How prayer becomes an ark that carries us through turbulent times - opinion",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/parashat-noah-how-prayer-becomes-an-ark-that-carries-us-through",
        "published": "2026-10-16T09:32:54.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}