IN A NUTSHELL
In this parasha God sees how wicked humankind has become and decides to bring a flood to destroy the whole world, and start again with Noaḥ and his family. God commands Noaḥ to build an ark and to bring his family, and some animals, into the ark so they will all survive.
After forty days of rain, the flooding finally ends and the water begins to disappear. When Noaḥ can finally leave the ark, he offers a sacrifice to God, and God makes a covenant (an agreement) with Noaḥ and all humans. In the covenant God tells humans how to be good, and promises never again to destroy the world with a flood. Soon, a new generation of humans try to build a city whose tower will reach heaven. This is called the Tower of Bavel. God prevents them from doing this by confusing their language, so that no one can understand anyone else.
The parasha ends with a list of the ten generations from Noaḥ’s son Shem to Avraham, who becomes the first-ever Jew in the next parasha.
QUESTION TO PONDER
Why do you think God needs to tell us how to be good? Shouldn’t we just know?