Three Degrees of Separation

3 Marcheshvan 5780
Erev Shabbat Kodesh
Parashat Noach

I'm sure you have heard the term "degrees of separation," but maybe like me, you didn't fully understand the meaning. Here is the definition: "A 'degree of separation' is a measure of social distance between people. You are one degree away from everyone you know, two degrees away from everyone they know, and so on."

By that definition, because of the very long lifespans at the beginning of our world, there were only three degrees of separation between Adam HaRishon and Avraham Avinu. True! Avraham Avinu was born while Noach was still alive and Noach's grandfather Lamech, who was still alive when Noach was born was himself born during the lifetime of Adam HaRishon.

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There were also three degrees of separation between Adam HaRishon and Ya'aqov Avinu since Lamech also lived to see his grandson Shem born and Ya'aqov Avinu was born in Shem's lifetime.

Lamech was 56 years old when Adam HaRishon died; Shem was 93 years old when his grandfather Lamech died; and Avraham Avinu was 58 years old when Noach died.  Shem outlived Avraham Avinu by 35 years.

Here is another interesting tidbit.  Both Noach and Avraham Avinu were alive when the Dor Haflagah (those who built the Tower of Bavel) were dispersed.  

Imagine!  Lamech learned firsthand from Adam HaRishon and passed that knowledge to his son Noach and grandson Shem who taught what they knew to Avraham Avinu and Ya'aqov Avinu.  And Ya'aqov Avinu knew not only those who survived the worldwide cataclysm of the Great Flood, but his own grandfather was even an eye-witness to the events that culminated in the division and dispersion of the world's population into various nations and languages.

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~ SHABBAT SHALOM ~