Perek 1 Posuk 1 “in the beginning G-d created”
In the very first Rashi in the entire torah, Rashi says we do not need this parsha except to teach us that G-d created the world and as a result, he can give the world to whomever he wants. In this case the land of Israel, also known as the beloved garden of G-d, belongs to the Jewish people. More than the other 14 parshot involved with this Rashi, this parsha shows that living in sin is not justified by saying, "It can't be that bad. Everyone else does it too."
Perek 6 Posuk 9 “righteous man perfect in his generations”
Rashi here says that there are 2 opinions. One is he was a tsaddik in any generation and the other is he was only righteous in his generation. One of the many reasons for not coming to Israel or going into the army is it is not religious enough. Rav Kook said if Israel or the army are not religious enough then come and change them. Ultimately, Noach was a tsaddik according to all opinions. The only question is how much? Moreover, the Israel govt and Tzahal (Israeli army) do follow Jewish law. The only question is how much? Before the f15 shot down a single enemy plane, the Israeli govt failed because a dedication ceremony lasted until Shabbat had begun. Any soldier caught making an army kitchen not kosher will get a week in a military blockade. As far as religiosity goes outside Israel, ask anyone involved in kosher food preparation if they really think the food they are serving is so kosher. Finally, Rav Issachar Shlomo Teichtal in Eim Habanim Smeicha states the kabala says anyone in Israel no matter how evil he appears must be a tsaddik or the land will kick him out. Rav Kook expands on this and gives an example of how this works in real life. He says it is like a guy that wants to go out with a girl but the girl is too shy to say no. She therefore goes out with the guy but makes her hair messy and wears an old dress. The guy then says, “sorry I do not think you are for me” without realizing that he was being manipulated in his decision making. This is confirmed by the second paragraph in the Shema that every religious Jew says twice a day. In the Shema there is one reward and only one reward for being a righteous individual. The reward mentioned being allowed to stay in G-ds beloved garden. A word to the wise should be sufficient.
Perek 6 Posuk 11 “et shem et ham et yefet”
The Ohr HaChaim says Noach did not want sinners as children. G-d thereupon told him it is none of your problem what will be. Just do your mitzvot as I have commanded. Noach thereupon timed their births so they would be less than 100 at the time of the flood. (In those days someone less than 100 was not subject to divine punishment) So too we learn from this it is not our job to weigh mitzvot. Perhaps one can do more mitzvot by learning Torah or living outside of Israel but just like Noach did as he was told so too must we. For instance being in the army one can still learn torah or a section of mishnyot by heart and say them as he is running. Or one can still write letters by email on ones out weekends to those living outside of Israel.
Perek 6 Posuk 13 and 14 “And G-d said to Noah the end of all flesh has come to me because the world is full of corruption so build for yourself an ark”.
It is interesting to compare the ark of Noach to the State of Israel. The prophets are full of references that before meshiach the world will be destroyed and only Israel will remain see for example Obadiah and Ezekiel chap 39 It is also interesting to note that the Zionist movement began with the Bilui movement 120 years ago. The same time that Noach built his ark. The only question that remains is when will G-d start counting? With the Biliu movement or Hertzl or the Founding of Israel?
Perek 6 Posuk 37 “ tsoar make for the ark”
Rashi has a dispute what the tsoar was. One of his opinions is it was a window, and the other a diamond which was translucent. According to Rav Nachman in the old city of Jerusalem this is not simply a dispute of building materials but goes back to the argument of whether Noach was a full tsaddik or partial tsaddik. If he was a full tsaddik then it was a window and he was able to see the punishment but if he was only a partial tsaddik then he wasn’t really meant to be saved and therefore didn’t deserve to see the punishment of his compatriots. Both Rav Chaim Shmulevits and the Chofetz Chaim urged aliya not just because of any mitzvot involved, but because they said it was too dangerous to live outside of Israel. As a historical fact while the Jews of Europe were being ravaged, the Jews of Israel were safe from Hitler Furthermore it should be pointed out that just as Rommel got to the borders of Israel he started to suffer military defeats and was forced to retreat never to return. Also at this time Rav Herzog the first chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of the State of Israel was asked if the Jews in Israel should make a last stand from Rommel like the Matsada Jews. His answer was once the redemption starts it will not fail.
Perek 6 Posuk 22 and Perek 7 Posuk 1 “And Noach did everything G-d had commanded him so he did.” “Righteous man in this generation”
Here in the torah we have rashi’s famous question. How can the torah say he was a tsaddik doing everything G-d asked and then say only in this generation? Rashi gave us an answer when he compared Noach to Avrohom. They both did what they were supposed to do, but Avrohom thought of ways to influence the masses to be good while Noach did only what he had to do. We can learn from this that it is not enough to talk about Israel but we also have to influence people to move to Israel.
Perek 7 Posuk 2 ‘And of all the beasts that are not pure you shall take two”
The torah does not say here and of the “impure animals” but from the “animals that are not pure”. The midrash says in Bereishet Rabbah 32 that this is a lesson that one should always try to speak using holy words and not lower levels of speech. Rav Nachman from the old city in Jerusalem expands on this and says likewise one should try to speak Hebrew which is a holy language as much as possible instead of languages without as much holiness.