A little “p.s.” to Parshat Bereishis:

It’s just a week after Sukot, the climax and culmination of the High Holidays. You pushed yourself to sweat through the intense introspection inspired by the fear and awe of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Then you were infused with the joy of Sukot, a joy that starts in the soul and reaches all the way down to the toes. It’s just a week after Sukot. How many of your resolutions for this new year, 5759, are still intact?

Well, don’t feel too bad. You’re in good company. “The fallen ones were in the world, then, and later too...” (Genesis 6:4). Who were these “fallen ones?” The Holy Zohar (1:23a) tells us that they were two angels who had protested the creation of man. “Man will sin,” they said to God. “Why bother creating him?” God answered, “You’ll be tested the same way and you’ll do a lot worse.” And that’s what happened. So, if angels can’t resist the temptations of this world, forgive yourself for an occasional lapse.

Now, you might be saying, “But I’m a Jew. I’m greater than an angel!” (See Kiddushin 81a.) “If an angel fails does that mean I have to fail?!”

No, not at all. But one always has to remember that even his best laid plans, even his truest, most pious of wishes, may not come to fruition. He may end up regretting what he’s done, and may have to scrap his plans and start again. “God regretted that He had made man...and His heart was saddened” (Genesis 6:6). (Of course, I do not advise eliminating people who defy your wishes!)

So, do as Noah did: patiently build yourself a teivah (a word, prayer), gather to it anything alive that can be used for rebuilding and ride out the storm.