Genesis

בייה

Dear Ones, did Noah exhibit signs of depression or stress before or after the worldwide flood? Under what circumstances does the Torah begin speaking about Noah to us? Do the Holy Scriptures specifically say Noah was depressed or stressed out? No! Does the Torah have to say Noah was depressed or stressed out definitively not? No! So, if we are to determine that Noah exhibited any of the symptoms of depression or stress, it will be up to us to read, research, and form our own opinions.

The Torah Narrative of Noah begins with (Genesis 6 and concludes with Genesis 10). (Genesis 6.5) Says, ‘And God Saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of [man’s] heart was only evil continually. And [the] Lord Regretted that He had made man on the earth, and it Grieved Him at his heart. And [the] Lord Said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the birds of the air; for I Regret that I have made them.’ After learning of the world’s wretched state of disrepair, Noah is mentioned to us even though Noah had lived in the world for almost 600 years; from a human point of view, that is a tough place to enter the conversation. Then, we didn’t know who Noah was, where he was from, or his field of expertise. We see the world is filled with wickedness, yet Noah is righteous. We know He comes from a line of righteous people.

I have taken it upon myself to list some common symptoms of depression and stress for familiarity.

Symptoms of Depression

Sadness, Melancholy, Fatigue, Burnout, Hopelessness, Helplessness Despair, Worthlessness, Concentration Fog, Mind-Stuck On, Culpability, Guiltiness, Blame, Interest in nothing, Sleeplessness, Anger, Irritability, Frequent Exhaustion and, Contemplation of Murdering One’s Self, Giving-Up on Living, Excessive Alcohol or Drugs, Chronic Pain, Constant Health Issues, – There are many others. Did Noah experience any of these possible Symptoms of Depression?

Symptoms of Stress

The Symptoms or cause of Stress are the Death of a loved one, Divorce, Separation, Anticipatory Grief, Shame, Procrastination, Organization-less, Non-systematizing, Long-Term Illness, Moving, Economic Loss, and Friendlessness.

Dear Ones, We cannot analyze each of the Symptoms of Depression and Stress in one discussion. One of our goals is to develop an awareness that will spark our mindfulness when studying the Torah. Another goal is

to consider the worldwide flood in Noah’s time compared to what our universe is facing today. What were the repercussions caused by that catastrophic, destructive flood in Noah’s day? It would be unreasonable to think that the survivors of the worldwide flood did not feel any emotion, depression, or guilt. Israelis and others feel enormous anguish from the evil, wickedness, and devastation forced upon us by Hamas! Gazans are depressed and sad because of the massive devastation resulting from their support of Hamas Terrorists. Gaza is in ruins.

Self Induced STRESS

Was Noah one of these individuals who TRIED TO GET MORE DONE THAN HE HAD TIME TO DO? I don’t know. However, I do know that each of us may experience short periods of depression or stress when we are frightened, challenged, or overwhelmed.

Did Noah and his family experience depression? If so, it may have resulted from the worldwide flood. In this discussion, our goal is to learn how Noah’s sadness and depression relate to current events in our world.

How did Noah, his wife, three sons, and three daughters-in-law cope with the top stressors in their lives?

Did Noah and other survivors on the Tava experience the Death of a Loved One? If one calculates the dates and times of people in (Genesis 5) as I have done in a chart format, it is easier to follow the years people died between Adam and Abraham. It is also to determine the date of Noah’s Flood. Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk, My Bible Journal(Cedar Hill, Missouri – B’nai Noach Torah Institute, LLC Publishers, 2013) p 42Adam/the first man lived 930 years. Why is this significant? Enoch lived during a large portion of Adam’s last years. (Genesis 5.24) Says, ‘Enoch walked with God and was taken alive into the Heavens.’ Is it possible that Adam may have influenced Enoch? – (Genesis 5.24) – because of Adam’s influence. Perhaps. His son Methushelach, whose prophetic name means ‘after this child dies destruction,’ and Enoch’s grandson Lamech, Noah’s father, each knew Adam. (Genesis 5.30) Says, ‘And Lamech lived after he fathered Noah five hundred and ninety-five years, and fathered sons and daughters.’

Noah had siblings who either perished in the flood or died before the flood. Noah was the big brother. Noah’s three sons had grandparents, uncles, aunts, and maybe cousins. Could it be that Noah, his wife, and their three sons were close to any of these relatives? Could they have experienced stress, hurt, tears, sadness, depression, and other painful emotions due to the loss of a Loved One? Perhaps they may have experienced stress and anxiety due to the impending separation from their loved ones due to the worldwide flood. The same existed for Noah’s wife, Na’amah, and the three daughters of Eliakim, son of Methuselah.

How long does the Death of a loved one impact us?

Only the Lord God Knows. I think that on and off, depression and stress resulting from the Death of a Loved One is for an entire life.

I don’t think anyone can accurately say how long the Death of a loved one causes stress, hurt, tears, sadness, depression, and other painful emotions. I remember the tears, sadness, guilt, hurt, and other expressions my mother of blessed memory shared with me from early childhood after her first two sons died. I remember Momma as a bright, cheerful individual with a beautiful smile, except for days before and after my older brothers’ birthdays and Yahrtzeits. On those sad, somber days, Momma was usually alone in the kitchen, sitting at the table facing east, crying. She would say, ” Honey, today is Donald’s Birthday, or your brother Donald died on this day [in 1938]. If my father saw me first, he would say, ” Son, don’t go in there. Your mother is having one of those days, or perhaps he would say she is crying over your brother. I would try to avoid my father on those days. He was frustrated! Occasionally, he might call out to Mamma from another room, Stop crying. There is little that one can do. Remembering my older brothers’ birthdays and Yahrtzeits was a point of contention between them. Back then, all I wanted to do was to comfort my mother. Years later, Momma would phone me crying. It was always difficult at these times of the year. Momma never got over the Death of Donald or Gary Lee.

Years back, there was an individual, an accountant at our Institute of Higher Learning, that I frequented. She became aggressive and challenging to communicate with each November through February of the following year. Her behavior was so aggressive during these times that staff members were afraid to approach her. The institute was frequently behind in its debts, and most of us thought that was the reason for her hostile, belligerent, antagonistic, pugnacious, and combative personality. On one occasion, I invited her to join us for a sabbath meal. It was during that meal that she shared about the Death of her two sons. They were on their way to join their mother for a Thanksgiving meal when their vehicle was struck by a train. The lives of both of her sons were snuffed out at that train crossing. She was grievously suffering because of the Death of her beloved sons. Anything can trigger feelings of loss resulting from the loss of a loved one.

Divorce or separation can be a huge source of depression and stress.

Did Noah and Na’amah experience Divorce or Separation?

How does one define Divorce or Separation?

Please pay close attention to the wording which describes how they entered the Tava. (Genesis 7.7) Says, ‘וַיָּבֹ֣א נֹ֗חַ Vah Yaw Voh – Noh Ach – And Noah went in, וּ֠בָנָ֠יו Voh Vaw Naw and his sons, וְאִשְׁתּ֧וֹ Vih Ee Shih Toh and his wife, וּנְשֵֽׁי־בָנָ֛יו Voo Nih Shaw Vaw and [the] wives [of] his sons’ with him, into the ark. Notice that Noah and his sons entered the Tava separately. Na’amah and the three wives of their sons also entered the Tava separately. They also exited the Tava separately. This indicates that the men lived and slept separately from the women. Sexual relations were prohibited on the Tava. There was no physical contact. In other words, the men and women lived, ate, and worked separately from each other. No babies were born on the Tava.

You decide. Were the inhabitants of the Tava feeling strong emotions of separation, stress, hurt, tears, sadness, depression, and other painful feelings?

Why did the men and women enter and exit separately?

Moving is a source of enormous stress. Moving requires change. The thought of moving causes anxiety and anticipatory grief. Noah, Na’amah, their three sons and daughter-in-laws moved into the Tava because God Commanded them to. The entire world was about to be flooded? Would the daily building of the Tava cause anticipatory grief? Would thoughts of the coming destruction of the entire world be considered a traumatic event? Were they being displaced from their family home, neighbors, and community? Is it possible that they felt emotional stress, irritability, and depression, among other stress-related problems?

Noah’s Long-term illness of sadness and depression changed him from a righteous man to a drunk. (Genesis 6.9) Says, ‘Noah was a righteous man perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.’ (Genesis 9.21) Says, ‘And he drank of the wine and became drunk.’ We will discuss the impact of Alcohol along with Noah’s drunkenness in a future conversation. We know that wine altered Noah’s behavior. We know that Noah uncovered himself and lay naked inside his tent. He cursed his youngest son’s fourth child, Canaan.

Did Noah experience one or more Job losses? When an individual is 600 years old, the possibility that he has suffered a job loss is likely. The Torah Narrative informs us of Noah’s new occupation. (Genesis 9.20) Says, ‘And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard.’ before this, Noah was a Tava builder. Before that, we cannot say what Noah’s employment status was.

We can see the destructive powers of depression and stress. It most unfortunate that Noah took a tumble. It is sad to read in the Torah how he faced so many incredibly powerful challenges and devastating impact on him and some members of his family. Where do we read of Noah asking the Lord God for assistance? The burden was too much for him. The Lord God does not expect us to do all the heavy lifting. We must stay on The Torahs path and ask/pray for His help. (Psalms 55.23) Says, ‘Transfer, transmit, remove, dismiss onto The Lord, what you are given for He is your support your nourishment. He will not allow tottering, faltering, slipping, collapsing, declining for the righteous, to eternity.’

Good Sabbath.

Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

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