Noah's Tent

        The Torah in Parashat Noach tells of Noach’s intoxication after the flood, and how he was humiliated by his son, Cham, when he unclothed himself in his drunken stupor.  In describing this event, the Torah writes that Noach “drank from the wine and became drunk, and he uncovered himself inside his tent” (9:21).  Rav Shimshon Rafael Hirsch noted that from the structure of this verse it appears that only the “uncovering” took place “inside his tent.”  The drinking and intoxication occurred while Noach was still outside, in public view.  Rav Hirsch thus understood that when Noach felt the wine “going to his head,” and thus realized that we was becoming intoxicated, he retreated to his tent.  Noach specifically went inside his tent, to his private chamber, anticipating that he might act in an uncomely manner as intoxication continued to set in.  Rav Hirsch further noted the unusual spelling of the word “aholo” (“his tent”) in this verse, which is written with an extra letter hei at the end.  One possible explanation of this spelling is that it denotes the feminine form, such that the word refers specifically to his wife’s chamber, where Noach felt confident that nobody, including his sons, would intrude upon and invade his privacy.

            This reading of the verse adds a new dimension to Cham’s response to his father’s nakedness.  Cham sinned not only in jeering at his father and calling his brothers to watch, but also in the very act of following Noach inside the tent.  Noach had gone to the innermost room in his home, to his private chamber, to avoid humiliation, and Cham intentionally followed his father inside so that he could see him in his state of inebriation.

            The story of Cham thus teaches the lesson of affording people privacy.  People are entitled to retreat to their “private chamber,” a place where they can keep the less impressive aspects of their characters out of the public eye.  We all, like Noach, have moments of weakness and failure. And we all deserve the right to a “private chamber” where we can work to improve ourselves protected from the curious, snooping eyes of those around us.  Cham’s offense against his father was denying him this basic right, following him into his private room to expose his shame.  He represents those who curiously peer into the private lives other people, who actively try to “dig up” information about them which has no place in the public view.  We are to remain outside other people’s “tents,” and allow their private affairs to remain private.  Our eyes must be turned inward, toward ourselves and our own religious growth, rather than peering into the lives of others.