It’s not enough to say that a newborn baby is cute. Rather we should think, Look at the great potential that lies in this baby!

“These are the offspring of Noach — Noach was a righteous man…. And Noach had… three sons: Shem, Cham, and Yafes.” (Bereishis 6:9–10)

Rashi’s bothered why the pasuk seemingly interrupts the introductory clause about Noach’s offspring to discuss Noach’s character traits, and only then returns to the names of his offspring.

Rashi famously states: This teaches that the primary offspring (i.e., creations) of the righteous are his good deeds.

If we think about this statement in the context of Noach, it’s nothing short of mind-boggling. If there’s one individual in the history of the world whose greatest accomplishment is his children, it’s Noach! We’re all Bnei Noach; Noach populated the entire planet! Surely his greatest accomplishment is his offspring! Nevertheless, Chazal say, no, it’s his good deeds. Why? (Rabbi Yissocher Frand)

I

was at a writing workshop where the moderator asked us to each share something about herself. We went around the table, and the responses were pretty standard. I didn’t feel I knew anything about anyone afterward, other than their names (if I’d even remember them).

The Maharal explains that a person’s children are something external to him whereas his good deeds become an internal part of him. What does this mean?

The Torah says that the first man was called Adam because he was taken from the ground (adamah). Yet, the Maharal asks, everything came from the earth, including the animals. So why is only man’s name taken from the adamah?

The Maharal answers that man is more related to the “adamah” than any other creature. When someone looks at a piece of land, he looks at what that land can produce. The Maharal says, don’t look at it merely as “earth.” Instead say, “Here lies the potential for sustaining food that can keep the world alive.”

But then the moderator surprised me. “Now,” she said, “let’s do that again. This time you have to say something about yourself that has nothing to do with your family or your job.”

Ooooh. Caught us. I squirmed. What on earth should I offer? Hi, my name is Faigy and I live in Eretz Yisrael? So did everyone else at the table! Did I dare venture something revealing about my real self? Nope, I tossed that idea. I didn’t know these ladies at all. How could I trust them enough to share something real about myself? (Am I paranoid, or simply careful?)

When it was finally my turn, I said something innocuous like, “My name is Faigy, and I’m a first-generation American.”

Cue the applause please. Wasn’t that revealing? No, I know I copped out. But it was simply too difficult to open up and say the things I really wanted to say.

“Adamah” is the quintessential term for potential. The same can be said of man. When we look at a human being, we should envision its potential. It’s not enough to say that a newborn baby is cute. Rather we should think, Look at the great potential that lies in this baby!

Human beings are all about the potential they can bring forth. Fulfilling that potential is the “primary offspring” of a person — namely, his good deeds.

Driving home after the session I challenged myself.

Okay, Faigy. Answer three things to each one of these questions.

My name is Faigy and xxx is very hard for me.

My name is Faigy and I’m trying to do xxx to work on what I answered in number 1.

My name is Faigy and I’ve baruch Hashem conquered the middah of xxx by working on xxx.

Aren’t you curious about what my xxx stand for? Actually, I’m curious as to what you would answer to those questions. How come I couldn’t be confident enough to say straight out, “My name is Faigy and I try really hard to exercise five times a week.”

There. Was that so bad? But how about the stickier things? The issues I haven’t conquered? Or that you haven’t conquered? I challenge you. You send me in your answers to these questions, and I’ll send you my own answers. Then maybe we’ll actually feel like we know each other, no? But only honesty. Cheaters aren’t welcome.

As they say, “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 965)