See previous post which explains the characteristics of each of Noach’s sons.
See Hirsch’s essay “Hellenism and Judaism”, Collected Writings, volume 2, page 199.
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Cursed is Canaan. Nations that are controlled by their base desires and coarseness will lose their freedom and become enslaved. Canaan will be a slave to slaves. Other nations will have this characteristic as well.
Only nations that are themselves enslaved try to enslave others. The tyrant who wants to conquer other nations, first subjugates his own people who become his tool to subjugate other nations.
Freedom is found where the law of morality reigns. Lust is the breeding ground of slavery.
Cham’s gods are the gods of brute force. Man trembles before them. Tyrants build altars to such gods, creating an atmosphere of fear which enables them to rule over their people.
Shem calls out in the name of God, before Whom the enslaving gods disappear. God liberates man. He endows man with equal dignity and uplifts him above the forces of nature. The breath of God lives in each person. God who is merciful and compassionate is close to everyone equally. He calls man to His service, which liberates and uplifts.
The teaching of God does not do battle through might and force. It wages its struggle in the moral battles man must fight within himself to be honest, kind and giving. Ultimately, God’s teaching will be victorious.
Noach expresses the wish that if indeed Cham must be a slave, let him be a slave to Shem, where he can serve him and thereby fulfill his Divine mission.
But the step before this is Yefes; culture. Cham is not ready to receive the Teaching of Shem immediately. The uncivilized person must first become a cultured person. Before a person can live a life of submission to God and all that He asks of him, he must first become refined and learn “proper taste”, even if these are only material values. This is a step above savagery towards higher values. Culture is the pathway that leads to the teachings of Shem.
Ultimately, all the civilizations of the world will learn from Shem. In time, the world will learn to make their homes dwelling places for the Shechina. (More on this central theme of RSRH in the next post!)
Beraishis 9:25-27
pages 247-249
