Episode 287 - Subverting the Myth: Noach, Ancient Myths, and the Ethics of Human Failure

Why does the Torah use language and motifs that have some similar parallels to ancient epics like Gilgamesh and the Odyssey? Adina Sternberg joins the podcast to explore how Parashat Noach speaks to its original audience in a familiar cultural dialect—only to radically subvert its pagan messaging towards one God who acts with moral judgement and also compassion towards the world He created. We also dive into the poignant human story after the Flood: examining shame, vulnerability, and what happens when an icon falls. From Ham’s angry exposure of his father to Shem and Yafet’s compassionate cover, we unpack how we ought to respond when those we look up to fail us.