Midreshet Amit

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In Parshat Noach, a great lesson is provided for the Jewish people, that lesson being our ability as a minute nation to surpass other larger nations that at first impression seem physically larger.

Parshat Noach is notorious for the mabul sent by Hashem to destroy the world. Hashem does not want to only grant the continuation of humans and therefore, tells Noach specific animals to bring into the ark to make sure they are protected. An important detail to pay attention to is that the position of the birds in the list of animals brought into the ark changes throughout the narrative. The first time Noach is commanded by Hashem to gather animals, it clearly says to take birds in first before any other animal. Bereishit 6:20 states, "...from each bird according to its kind and from each animal according to its kind." Yet, later, the animals are listed again, and this time they are listed from strongest to weakest with the exception of the birds. Strangely the birds are listed last, even after insects - "They, and every beast after its kind, every animal after its kind, every creeping thing...and every bird after its kind." Then, when it comes time for the animals to leave, the birds' position in the list is once again switched back to its original spot, the first. Why is the birds' position on the list inconsistent, going from first to last and then back to first?

It seems to be that the animals are always listed from strongest to weakest. Logically when thinking about the animals, we would think that birds belong somewhere between animals and insects. However, prior to entering the tevah, birds are listed first because the bird has a physical attribute that separates it from the rest, its ability to fly. However, once they were actually in the tevah, their ability became unattainable to them because they were trapped inside the ark, unable to fly, and so they were then dropped to the end of the list of animals mentioned. Then when leaving the ark, when their unique ability was about to be reclaimed, they moved once again back to the front of the list.

This lesson is applied to us through the words "me'ate mi'kol ha'amim" meaning, the least of all the nations. In this world, we are not the largest of nations by any means, but our strength lies in more than just numbers. Similar to the birds who might be smaller in size, but have an advantage over their predators with their unique ability of flight, the Jewish people possess certain spiritual powers that make us unique among the nations regardless of our size. May we all be proud to be part of such an extraordinary nation!