Why was Avraham the first Jew and not Noach?
Isn't Noach the perfect candidate? Saved civilization. Unmoved by public opinion or action. Trusts in G-d.
(ט) אֵ֚לֶּה תּוֹלְדֹ֣ת נֹ֔חַ נֹ֗חַ אִ֥ישׁ צַדִּ֛יק תָּמִ֥ים הָיָ֖ה בְּדֹֽרֹתָ֑יו אֶת־הָֽאֱלֹהִ֖ים הִֽתְהַלֶּךְ־נֹֽחַ׃
(9) These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a wholesome righteous man in his generations; Noah walked with God.
Rashi
"In his generations"
Some of our Sages interpret the words “In his generations”] favorably:
How much more so if he had lived in a generation of righteous people, he would have been even more righteous.
Others interpret it in a derogatory way: In comparison with his generation he was righteous, but if he had been in Abraham’s generation, he would not have been considered of any importance.
Why is the Torah comparing Noach to Avraham?
If you can explain something positively, why explain it negatively?
Midrash Rabba 56:10
Abraham called the city of Jerusalem “Yeiraeh” as it is written, “And Abraham called the place “G-d will see” (for it will be said that on this mountain G-d will be seen” (Yireh)).
Shem (son of Noach) called it “Shalem”, as it is written, “Malkitzedek, the king of Shalem.”
G-d said: If I call it Yirah as Abraham called it, Shem who is a holy man will object, and if I call it Shalem, Abraham, a holy man, will object. Rather I will name it Yerushalayim, combining their names together:
Yirah-Shalem= Yerushalayim.
Why are these two people chosen?
Why would they get so upset about the naming of the city?
(9) For this is as the waters of Noach to Me; For as I have sworn that the waters of Noach should no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be get angry at you...
Why call the flood the "waters of Noach?"
Zohar, Noach 67b
Once G-d told Noach that he and his family will be saved, he did not pray for the rest of the world, and it was destroyed. That is why the flood is named after him, as it is written (Isaiah 54:9):
"For this is to Me [as] the waters of Noah, as I swore that the waters of Noah shall never again pass over the earth…”
Zohar, Noach 67b
Rabbi Judah said: What could Noach have done better?
... Noach was scared for himself that he should not perish among the guilty of the world.
Our Sages taught: The Chanukah candle - it is a mitzvah to place it at the door of his house, on the outside. And if he was living in an attic (aliyah), he places it in a window adjoining the public area. And in times of danger [i.e., persecution], he places it on his table and it is sufficient for him.
(5) And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
(א) אשר עשו בחרן. שהכניסן תחת כנפי השכינה, אברהם מגיר את האנשים, ושרה מגירת הנשים, ומעלה עליהם הכתוב כאלו עשאום
(1) "that they 'made' in Haran"-they brought them under the wings of the Shechina (God's presence); Abraham would convert the men and Sarah would convert the women, the Torah writes it as if they 'created' them (that's why it says 'made')...
(18) seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? (19) For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him.’
ויקרא שם בשם יי אל עולם
אמר ריש לקיש אל תיקרי ויקרא אלא ויקריא מלמד שהקריא אברהם אבינו לשמו של הקב"ה בפה כל עובר ושב
“And he [Abraham] called there in the name of
G-d, Master of the world.” (Vayeira 21:33)
Reish Lakish said: Do not read it “He called” but rather “He made others call.” This teaches that Abraham our father taught all the passersby to call out the name of the Almighty...
NOTE - Avraham is not the founder of ethical Judaism? Shem, Ever, Chanoch, Mesushelach...
If not, what what was his novelty?
What is a tzadik in peltz?
Zohar Chadash, Noach
Avraham learnt and taught Torah in the Study Hall (yeshiva) of Shem.
(22) And the children struggled together within her; and she said: ‘If it be so, why I am like this?’ And she went to inquire of Hashem.
Shem went to the study hall of Shem
(27) And the boys grew; and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents.
The tent of Shem and the tent of Ever
Now we can understand the name of Jerusalem
But, why Yiru before Shalem?