Parashat Noah: End of the negative collective

• Author: SHMUEL RABINOWITZ
• Published date: 07 October 2021
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

The Torah tells us that in those days, all people spoke one language and were united in their desires. They learned how to create bricks and decided to build a city with a huge tower at its center; so huge that it would seem as though its top was "in the heavens" (Genesis 11, 4), and thus they would remain united and strong. The Torah says that God mixed up (balal) their language and in time they began speaking distinct languages so they were not able to understand one another. This caused them to set aside their grandiose plans and disperse to all corners of the earth. That land became known as Babel, derived from the word belila – confusion.

This story raises the question: Why did God punish those building the tower if unity is usually considered a positive value, not one seen in a negative light?

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Rabbi Shlomo Ephraim Luntschitz, a rabbi and commentator in Prague in the early 17th century, known for his commentary on the Torah named the Kli Yakar, was accepted as one of the central pillars of biblical commentary. He offered a brilliant explanation that shed light on the story of the Tower of Babel, based on the words of the sages of the Mishna: "The dispersal of the wicked is beneficial to them, and beneficial to the world.

"The dispersal of the righteous is detrimental to them, and detrimental to the world.

"The assembly of the wicked is detrimental to them and detrimental to the world.

"The assembly of the righteous is beneficial to them and beneficial to the world" (Sanhedrin 8, 5).

The sages of the Mishna are saying that it is better for the world and better for the wicked that they be dispersed and far from each other. On the other hand, the gathering of the righteous is beneficial for them and for the world. We can easily understand why it's bad for the world when evil people unite, but why is it considered bad for them as well?

When there is a gathering of people who have good intentions, their common goal is to increase...